[Creating the model county to promote the prevention of blindness in Zhejiang Province].
OBJECTIVE
To develop a system of enhancing work efficiency in prevention of blindness in Zhejiang province by creating the Model County in prevention of blindness.


METHODS
Twenty counties were selected in the whole Zhejiang province to serve as the candidates of the Model County in prevention of blindness in 1996 - 1998. The activities for prevention of blindness were conducted in these counties according to the five standards of the Model County in prevention of blindness established by the National Committee for Prevention of Blindness. The Model County in prevention of blindness was awarded only after checking and accepting by the authorities in county, provincial and national levels.


RESULTS
The effective way for creating the Model County in prevention was as follows: the local government put the prevention of blindness in the list of the priorities, the local committee for prevention of blindness was established, the three level network for prevention of blindness was established, the eye care workers were trained, the necessary equipment was provided. After the efforts for three years, seven counties were awarded as the Model County in prevention of blindness. In addition, Shaoxing Prefecture city became Model City in prevention of blindness. A strong effort was made to promote the activities for prevention of blindness during 1996 to 1998 in the other thirteen counties. The number of eye doctors increased from 602 into 1 850. There were two folds increase in the number of equipment availability, for example, slit lamp and ophthalmic microscope. The annual number of cataract surgeries was about 20 000.


CONCLUSIONS
It appears to be a good approach to create the Model County to promote the prevention of blindness.
Zhu
Qi-zhong
QZ
Department of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Province People's Hospital, Hangzhou 310014, China. msk-lasik@sohu.com
Zheng
Li
L
D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D011320:Primary Health Care