Evaluation of National Silicosis Elimination Program

Abstract

The project "An Evaluation of the National Silicosis Elimination Program" had objectives to evaluate the implementation of the National Silicosis Elimination Program (or the National Silicosis Prevention and Control Program) and to improve the future plan. The National Silicosis Prevention and Control Program was evaluated by application of questionnaires, in depth interview, annual report data, silicosis situation report. From the data analysis on the structure, role and functions of the Provincial Public Health Office, it was revealed that after the re-engineering of government administration system in 2003 there was obviously change in the structure of the Provincial Public Health Office and only one officer in Occupational and Environmental Diseases work. The roles were monitoring, follow up and support public health organizations of district and sub-district level. The structure of the hospitals were not changed.For the medical doctors training on reading radiographs of pneumoconiosis according to ILO international classification. It was shown that 32.2% of hospitals had the trained medical doctors and only 14.5% of hospitals had system establishment (chest x-ray films were read by two medical doctors ; reader A and reader B) The factors on the policy of the executive administrator, proficiency of the personnels, equipments, budget, and team work affected the implementation of the National Silicosis Prevention and Control Program. According to the implementation analysis, it was reported that the trend of each target activity achievement decreased in each year ( 2002, 2003, 2006) which silicosis surveillance was implemented.