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Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 1985 31(1):30-35; doi:10.1093/tropej/31.1.30
© 1985 by Oxford University Press
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Paediatric Ophthalmic Problems in Nigeria

Adenike Abiose, MB, DO, FRCS Ed, Senior Lecturer/Consultant Ophthalmologist

Guinness Ophthalmic Unit, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Kaduna, Nigeria

Conjunctival and corneal diseases were responsible for ocular morbidity in a high proportion of children attending ophthalmic clinics. Not only were many of these conditions preventable, but since they gave rise to ocular discomforts and congestions, parents could not claim to be unaware of their presence. Educating parents on general cleanliness, and on the prompt reporting of ocular, and indeed other diseases in their children would not only reduce morbidity but also the incidence of blindness. Whilethe role of general improvement in nutrition and carefully timed vaccination has been discussed with regards to measles, health education is essential to improve parental awareness.

This information could be disseminated by community nurses in antenatal, infant welfare or planned parenthood clinics. Since most of these nurses work in their own community, there is no language, communication or cultural barrier, and parents have confidence in them. There is therefore a case for including elementary ophthalmology in the training of community nurses.

In addition, the training of auxiliaries and nurses specifically for running field eye clinics which can recognize and treat simple eye diseases while referring difficult cases to hospital, should be encouraged. Experience in training post-basic nurses in ophthalmology in this hospital has shown that at the end of their twelve months training, most of them are quite proficient and have been successfully trusted with running rural eye clinics. Some of them have shown such competence that they could be further trained to carry out minor operations and assist in the collection of much needed data. But adequate recognition of their job and commensurate remuneration must be given, before others can be encouraged to train.

Nigeria like many other developing countries32,33 cannot afford to depend only on the Western type ophthalmologists. While these must concentrate on the more difficult cases and on major surgery, a large population can be reached by nurses and auxiliaries and the travelling distance of patients can be considerably reduced.


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