Perceptions of South African National and Provincial Health Directorate managers on eye health promotion

Background: Health directorate managers are responsible for health promotion initiatives in South Africa.Purpose: This study sought to establish the perceptions of health managers in the various health directorates regarding eye health promotion activities in the country.Methods: The study used structured interviews as a tool for collecting relevant information on the perceptions of health directorate managers about eye health promotion. Six managers from the National Department of Health and 53 from the Provincial Health Directorates were interviewed.Results: The provincial managers from the Directorates of Chronic Diseases, Disabilities and Geriatrics (N = 8) indicated that their policies included eye health issues. Those from other directorates (N = 45) indicated that no reference was made to eye health in their provincial policy documents for health promotion. However, they all believed that eye health promotion messages or some elements of eye health promotion should be integrated in their programmes.Conclusion: Although there is a draft policy framework for eye healthcare, the lack of a dedicated directorate and poor capacity in the National Department of Health is likely to retard the progress of implementing policy directives.