Task-shifting eye care to ophthalmic community health officers (OCHO) in Sierra Leone: a qualitative study

Summary

This study aimed to explore the experiences of ophthalmic community health officers (OCHOs), their relationship with other eye health workers, and how they interact with the wider health system, to provide recommendations for the design and delivery of future task shifting strategies. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 42-participants.

In Sierra Leone, the roll-out of the OCHO programme presented a mixed picture despite the eye health workers’ commitment to their new role. The challenges identified reflect structural weaknesses in the health system, that undermine a cohesive implementation of eye health initiatives within primary health care. Considerable attention has to be placed in the development of robust policy environment to facilitate the success of programmes that we are implementing.