Eye Care Staff Member with Masks and Water
Most eye care programs in most countries where Seva works stopped providing all services, other than emergencies, in late February or early March this year following strict government decrees in Asian countries (China, Cambodia, Nepal and India) as well as some countries in Africa (Madagascar and Uganda) but other programs stopped services despite receiving no government direction (Tanzania).
In any case, providing eye care in a less efficient and more cautious COVID world likely means adding about 20% to the cost of services at any program level. Programs are currently running at 50% capacity in most settings.
With the hospitals only providing emergency services and most employees continuing to receive salaries, several opportunities arose for individual and collective program evaluation and learning. In Nepal, for example, a virtual multi-centre cataract surgical quality improvement program involving 5 hospitals became more active, with a focus on COVID-19 infection control in hospital. An operational research capacity building program, involving the Indian Institute for Public Health in Hyderabad, expanded to assist programs in India, Nepal and Cambodia.
While police-enforced shut down rules have been followed successfully, lifting these rules likely will be problematic in most settings where Seva Canada operates. Typically, in these areas, people have a low level of trust in the government, do not recognize the importance of the health system, and have little or no experience with public health measures.
In any case, providing eye care in a less efficient and more cautious COVID world likely means adding about 20% to the cost of services at any program level. Programs are currently running at 50% capacity in most settings.
Eye Care Staff Member Taking Precautions During COVID
As eye care in the COVID world evolves, our partners and programs will continue to find safe and effective ways to give the power of sight to those in need.
