Introduction: Service provision for tackling cataract blindness is a key priority and
remains a challenge for eye care programs in Nigeria. At the moment, paucity of data on
these services makes evaluation and effective planning difficult.
Objective: To evaluate the infrastructure, equipment, and human resources for cataract
surgical services, and determine the cataract surgical output in Kwara State, Nigeria.
Materials and Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study of all cataract service
institutions in Kwara state was conducted in May-July 2008 using pre-tested
questionnaire and on-site review. Output data for 2003-2007 was collected and channels of yearly reporting of cataract surgical output for 2008-2009 established. Descriptive and
analytical statistics were performed. For all comparisons, statistical significance was
indicated by p<0.05.
Results: There were 14 cataract surgical centres (9 Base Hospitals and 5 Surgical
Outreach Centres); all the Base Hospitals were located in the urban centres with over
two third cited in Ilorin, the state capital. The state had adequate equipment and
infrastructures; however they are mal-distributed in favour of urban areas.
A total of 157 eye care workers comprising 12(7.6%) ophthalmologists (c
Diplomates=4), 16(10.2%) trainee ophthalmologists, 94(59.9%) mid-level ophthalmic
personnel and 35(22.3%) support staff serve the state’s 2.37million people. Eighty per
cent of the eye care workers reside in the state capital where less than 30% of the
population lives. Cataract surgical output increased from 218 in 2,003 to 1020 in 2009.
Conclusion: There is adequacy of infrastructure, equipment and human resources with
improving cataract surgical output. To attain vision 2020 target, mal-distribution of
infrastructures, equipment and human resources and poor staff mix need to be
addressed. There is urgent need for establishing state- and nation-wide systems for
reporting cataract surgical output.