Table 4 Summary findings: Sightsavers- GHS partnership
Region of location | Eastern | Form of involvement (initiation, contribution of partners and management of the collaboration) | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Interviews conducted | 1NGO 2 GHS | Initiated by GHS with external funding from Sightsavers with periodic signing of an MOU. - GHS supports with government eye clinics, equipment, consumables and human resources. - Sightsavers provides financial and technical support for implementing programs and projects, including infrastructure provision (eye clinics); human resource development: training of ophthalmologists and eye care personnel; and facilitation and importation of essential drug donations and equipment. - Regional Health Directorate of GHS hosts the partnership’s secretariat managed by a Program Manager. This secretariat has a technical wing, made up doctors, nurses and district health institutions that provide services. The Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS) heads the secretariat, assisted by the Deputy Regional Director of Health Services and the Regional Eye Care Coordinator. - The district health institutions channel needed logistical supplies and resources through the Eye Coordinator to the RDHS for submission to Sightsavers and vice- versa from Sightsavers to the institutions. - GHS holds stakeholders’ meetings regularly (e.g., mid-year, end-of-year) for Sightsavers, government and other stakeholders, to identify program priorities, costs and implementation strategies, and to evaluate progress. | - Reduced burden of eye diseases estimated at a relatively lower prevalence: 0.7 % or 18400 of this region’s population (2,633,154) contrasted with national level prevalence: 1 % or 240,000 of Ghana’s population (24 million) [36] - Increased number of trained ophthalmologists (from 2 to 4); ophthalmic nurses (from 12 to 32); optometrists (2 to 8); equipment technicians (1 to 5) and, eye centres (from 10 to 18) providing 24- h services – Availability of basic equipment (e.g. slit lamps, torch lights and ophthalmoscopes, vehicles for outreach and primary eye care services. | - High staff turnover among Sightsavers’ employees - GHS’ inability to keep program/project timelines or deadlines |
Driver of Collaboration | High burden of eye diseases | |||
Time Frame | 1996 to date |