May 2, 2023

COMMUNITY OUTREACH – AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY, AFFORDABILITY AND GENDER INCLUSIVITYManish Kumar, Orbis International

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THE NEED…

Blindness is a public health issue – efforts should be made to tackle it at the community level with appropriate referral

Outreach = Reach Out

Go to them in order to make them come to us• Leading to behaviour change towards

seeking health care services

Base Hospitalwork

CommunityWork

(Outreach)

Comprehensive Service Delivery

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BARRIERS

Geographical

Social

Economic

Lack of Awareness

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VARIOUS OUTREACH MODELS

Nomadic Camps- Sporadically organized in different locations

Fixed Site Camps- Organized periodically in the same place

Mobile Ophthalmic Clinics- An equipped van is used for screening camps in unreached areas

Vision Centers- A fixed facility with a permanent staff to serve a designated population on a daily basis

OUTREACH SCREENING MODES

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Direct Indirect

Outreach Camp

Mobile Van Clinic

Vision Center

School Screening Anganwadi Screening

Community Volunteer Screening

Hospital intervention required to monitor the quality of work and

reduce unnecessary referral of patients

Hospital Volunteers/CBOs

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BENEFITS OF OUTREACH

Promotes community mobilization and ownershipService provider’s presence in the communityPromotes problem specific solution designIncreases reach – coverageIncreases awareness within the communityEncourages involvement of all stakeholdersAddresses barriers to increase affordability, accessibility and gender inclusivity

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ACCESSIBILITY

Breaking the geographical barrier to begin with…

Services made available within the communityLess time consumedUnreached communities can be reachedOpportunity for community involvement

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AFFORDABILITY

Reduced cost for the patientTreatment cost

Other associated expenses

Fewer visits to the hospital, as follow up can be done at a nearby center

Reduced timeSubsidized treatment – surgeries, spectacles, etc.Reduces over-referral …. only when necessary

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GENDER INCLUSIVITY

Higher turn out of females in outreach as compared to base hospital

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SCREENING COMPARISON

Male60%

Female40%

Base Hospital

Male42%

Female58%

Outreach

Out-reach69%

Base Hospital31%

Screening of Females

Screening Data of one year - 2013

  Male Female Total

Outreach 68,559 95,144 163,703

Base Hospital 64,174 43,307 107,481

Total 132,733 138,451 271,184

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Allows for tailoring strategies to focus on women and girl child• Key Informant method

• Involve ASHA workers

• Develop strategies to get the women to hospitals for treatment

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OUTCOME

Better Monitoring

Improved Follow-up

Increased Compliance

Better Visual

Outcome

Improved Quality of

Life

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THANK YOU