Building Sustainable Eye Health Systems. What Has the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN) Been Saying? Being the text of presentation delivered at the symposium of the 46th Annual Scientific Conference of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria on 1st September, 2022

Gloria PATRICK-FERIFE

Authors

Dr. Gloria PATRICK-FERIFE, MBBS, MSc, FNMCO Director/State Coordinator, Nigeria Institute of Medical Research Outstation, Asaba and Consultant Ophthalmologist, D-Glopa Specialist Eye Centre, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.

Keywords:

Implementation, Strategic Plans, Communique

Abstract

Purpose: This is a review of the resolutions in the communiques of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN) in the past ten (10) years and the strategic plans of the Society and their alignment with the health system building blocks, in order to draw the attention of members of the OSN to the need to implement the resolutions in the communique and the strategic plans.

Methods: A compilation and retrieval of all communiques issued or published at the end of the annual general meetings and scientific
conferences (AGM/SC) of the OSN in the past ten years was done. Document analysis on all available communiques and the two strategic plans of the Society; Vision for the Future I & II was carried out using quantitative content and thematic analysis.

Findings: The Society held its annual general meetings and scientific conferences consistently in the ten years under review, a virtual AGM held in 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic. An analysis of the resolutions contained in the communiques, revealed that 20% of the resolutions were focused on service delivery, 10% on Human resource, 2% on medical products vaccines and Technology, 4% on Health Information System, 10% on Health System Financing, 25% on Leadership and Governance and 29% on Health Promotion and Partnerships. There was no documented evidence of any functioning implementation committee or monitoring and evaluation report on the resolutions or strategic plans.

Conclusion: The OSN has continuously addressed the eye/health system building blocks through its resolutions and its strategic plans but has not made any concerted efforts in areas of implementation. It is hoped that this paper will draw the attention of the national body and state chapters of the Society to the need to set up mechanisms for the implementation of the OSN strategic plan and communiques.

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Vision for the Future – Nigeria; A strategic plan to preserve and restore vision

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