Establishing Vitreoretinal Surgery Capacity in Sierra Leone: Challenges and Opportunities to Address Retinal Health Disparities in Resource-limited Settings.

Autor:	Harrison-Williams L; National Eye Programme, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone., Vandy MJ; National Eye Programme, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone., Mattia JG; National Eye Programme, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone., Hartley CD; Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE., Fashina T; Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE., Huang Y; Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE., Choo C; Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE., Yeh C; Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE., Huang C; Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE., Nguyen N; Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE., Conteh I; Lowell and Ruth Gess Eye Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone., Campbell K; Lowell and Ruth Gess Eye Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone., Konneh A; Lowell and Ruth Gess Eye Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone., Hayek BR; North Georgia Eye Clinic, Gainesville, GA., Shantha JG; F.I. Proctor Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA., Crozier I; Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research supported by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD., Mwanza JC; Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC., Conrady CD; Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE., Justin GA; Department of Ophthalmology, Walter Reed National Army Medical Center, Bethesda, MD., Yeh S; Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE.; Global Center for Health Security, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE., Mustapha J; National Eye Programme, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	International ophthalmology clinics [Int Ophthalmol Clin] 2024 Oct 01; Vol. 64 (4), pp. 31-38. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Oct 29.
DOI:	10.1097/IIO.0000000000000534
Abstrakt:	A range of challenges exists regarding vitreoretinal (VR) surgical services in resource-limited settings, including Sierra Leone. As a result, retinal pathologies may contribute to vision loss and blindness. In the wake of the 2013 to 2016 outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa, gaps in ophthalmic care were underscored as survivors were experiencing a constellation of sequelae, including uveitis and VR disease. Given the unmet needs in addressing VR disease, systems for retinal surgical care were required. To further understand long-term ocular complications in Ebola survivors and molecular and immunologic factors associated with this, research infrastructure was developed for retinal evaluation and surgery. The 5 "S'" framework was implemented and considered staff, space, stuff, systems, and social support. The ongoing development of retinal health infrastructure has helped to address challenges related to program implementation, development of surgical capacity, and alignment with local stakeholders and collaborator objectives. VR surgical services have been established in Sierra Leone through multidisciplinary partnerships and collaboration and serve patients in-country, as well as others in West Africa who have traveled for care. Continued engagement across stakeholders can aim to address challenges and promote effective care delivery. Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose. (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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