Assessment of the distribution of human and material resources for eye health in the public sector in Nampula, Mozambique

Abstract

Background The unavailability of human and material resources can afect access to eye health services, constituting an obstacle in the fght against avoidable visual impairment. This study aimed to assess the availability and distribu‑ tion of human and material resources for eye health in the public sector in Nampula province. Methods A mixed method approach was used, which included document reviews (to extract information regard‑ ing the number of professionals and inhabitants in each district) and application of a questionnaire to heads of the ophthalmology department in each health facility (to obtain the list of available equipment). The ratios of eye health professionals per population in Nampula province and each of its districts were calculated and evaluated taking into account the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). Based on the level of care of each health facility, the availability of equipment was evaluated. Results Nampula Province has not reached the recommended ratio of eye health professionals per population in the diferent categories (ophthalmic technicians with 0.8 per 100 thousand inhabitants; optometrists and ophthalmolo‑ gists with 0.4 and 0.2 per 250 thousand inhabitants, respectively). Most districts of Nampula did not reach the recom‑ mended ratio in the three categories of professionals, except Nampula City (provincial capital). However, there was a greater concentration of professionals and facilities with eye health services in the provincial capital. Primary and secondary level health facilities lacked some equipment to provide eye health services within their scope. Conclusions There is an unequal distribution of the workforce in Nampula and the centralization of surgical services at the Central Hospital of Nampula level. Therefore, there is a need to review resource distribution strategies and decentralization policy of eye health services in Nampula