Heart to Heart Foundation, as part of the
“Strengthening the Primary Eye Health Project through Integrated People-Centered Approach in Dhaka District, Bangladesh(2025–2027)”
supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency(KOICA),
conducted capacity-building training on "Integrated Eye Health Services" from July 12 to 13.
The training targeted a total of 12 nurses from the Eye Center and NCD(Non-communicable Disease) Corner
responsible for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes,
located at primary health care facilities in the Savar and Dhamrai Upazilas of Dhaka District, Bangladesh.
Integrated Eye Health service connects eye care into the primary healthcare to catch
and treat conditions like diabetic nephropathy early.
By linking Eye Centers with NCD Corner, it ensures people with diabetes or hypertension get timely care,
making eye health services simple and accessible for everyone.
Training on Integrated Eye Health Services for Nurses at the Eye Center and NCD Corner
The training aimed to enhance nurses‘ eye health knowledge
and strengthen coordination between Eye Center and NCD Corner in primary healthcare facilities.
It ensures high-risk patients, with diabetes or hypertension, receive timely and appropriate eye care.
The program also improved nurses‘ practical skills for quality service delivery in their communities
A textbook developed by eye specialists and eye professors
The instructors—three eye specialists with over 10 years of experience,
including a professor from the National Institute of Ophthalmology(NIO)—developed the curriculum and textbook,
then conducted the lectures for each session.
The training was delivered with practical content that can be directly applied in primary healthcare settings.
Training session conducted by a professor from NIO
On the 1st day, the training was empowered nurse with essential skills for primary eye care.
Dr. Quader, a professor leading eye specialist from the NIO, led sessions on Bangladesh‘s eye health challenges,
the power of Integrated Eye Health, and conditions like cataracts and refractive errors.
Training session on Diabetic retinopathy
The next session explored how NCDs like diabetes and hypertension can damage vision,
spotlighting diabetic retinopathy, which affects one in three of diabetic patients.
It emphasized the importance of early detection
and connecting Eye Center with NCD Corner to protect vision at the primary healthcare level.
환자 기록관리 방법 교육Training on patient record management
On the 2nd day of training, the focus was on practical skills for primary healthcare.
Nurses learned about the integrated service system between the Eye-NCD Corner,
as well as essential field practices such as patient record management, vision testing methods,
and how to refer patients to higher-level hospitals.
Nurse-Specific Test Scores Before and After Training
To evaluate the effectiveness of the training, it was found that their overall knowledge of eye health services
and understanding of the integrated Eye-NCD Corner services had significantly improved.
Group photo of the Eye–NCD Corner nurses and the professor
Heart to Heart Foundation aims to strengthen expertise and expand the scope of integrated eye health services in the target regions,
through comprehensive eye health service training for nurses at the Eye centers and NCD Corner.
These efforts seek to establish an integrated and sustainable eye health service system accessible to all.
Together for Better Vision!
Your continued support for the Bangladesh Eye Health Project is greatly appreciated.
[Heart to Heart Foundation, with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA),
is implementing a project of Strengthening the Primary Eye Health Project through Integrated People-Centered Approach in Dhaka District, Bangladesh, from 2025 to 2027.]
