CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MODERN SYSTEM OF PRESERVING AND STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH OF THE ORGAN OF VISION IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Purpose: to present a substantiated and developed modern functional-and-organizational system for preserving and strengthening the health of the organ of vision in children infants. Materials and methods. Materials: results of personal preliminary scientific research and existing experience in activities to preserve the health of the organ of vision in children. Methods: bibliographic, of modeling, of structural-and-logical analysis. Results. A comprehensive modern functional-and-organizational system for preserving and strengthening the health of the organ of vision in children, which is intersectoral, patient-oriented and covers children at all their life stages, regardless of their location, is presented. The modern functional-and-organizational system of preserving and strengthening the health of the organ of vision in children is built on certain medical and social clusters. These clusters are: the formation of a motivated responsible attitude in parents and children to the preservation of the health of the organ of vision and their training in the basics of ophthalmic hygiene; conducting preventive ophthalmological examinations with the development of individual programs of medico-prophilactic and rehabilitation programs for children with pathology of the organ of vision and risk factors for their development; creating conditions for children at all their life stages to preserve the health of the organ of vision; specialized affordable medical care for children with eye pathology. At the same time, the main participants of the system are the authorities, the system of medical care, the public health system, educational institutions of various levels and forms of ownership, other sectors and participants in the process, including orphanages and children’s colonies, social protection services. In this system, each of its participants has its own tasks and functions in their coordination, which is provided by the Intersectoral Coordination Council of the Regional/Territorial State Administration. It is important to include legislative and executive regional (territorial) authorities in the presented system with the definition of target tasks and functions for them. They consist in the inclusion in the targeted comprehensive social programs of a section on ensuring the preservation of the health of the organ of vision in children with the determination of the volume and sources of its financing and coordination of this area of intersectoral activity. The basic level in the process of ensuring the preservation and strengthening of the health of the organ of vision in the child population is the child’s family. In the post-war conditions, the introduction of mobile forms of ophthalmological care for children for remote settlements and settlements of the mountainous geographical zone of residence is fundamentally new in the organization of specialized ophthalmological care. Important components of the system are the provision with highly qualified personnel and the comprehensive informatization of defined intersectoral activities. The system is patient-oriented. It is aimed at children and their parents, who should be motivated to health-preserving behavior in relation to the organ of vision in children, trained in methods of preventing pathology of the organ of vision with the application of the basics of ophthalmic hygiene and use knowledge in everyday life. A necessary component of ensuring the effectiveness of the system is monitoring and assessment of indicators of the state of ophthalmological health of the child population and components of the activities of the sectors of the system with their correction, if necessary. In order to carry out monitoring and assessment, it is necessary to develop indicators of structure, process, and result for a specific territory. These indicators should be developed annually, taking into account the dynamics of indicators of the state of ophthalmological health of the child population and complex indicators of each participant of the system. Conclusions. A substantiated and developed modern functional-and-organizational system for preserving and strengthening the health of the organ of vision in the children covers the entire life cycle of children, regardless of the social status and location of the child. Its implementation will ensure the creation of conditions for ensuring the motivated preservation and strengthening of the health of the organ of vision by children.