Figure 6

Projected ophthalmic clinical officers/nurses-to-population ratios 2011–2050 in seven selected countries. Projected ophthalmic clinical officers/nurse-to-population ratios are presented for five countries that are currently below the VISION 2020 target but are projected to have increasing ratios between 2011 and 2020, and for two countries (Mali and Togo) where the ratio is expected to decrease, even though it was above (Togo) or close to (Mali) meeting the VISION 2020 target in 2011. In two of the countries (Malawi and Nigeria) with increasing ratios, proportional practitioner population increases can eventually be expected to be outpaced by proportional general population increases and the VISION 2020 target will not be achieved without further intervention. Practitioner population growth is expected to be rapid enough to replace the VISION 2020 practitioner shortage without intervention in Zimbabwe and Rwanda before 2020 and in Ethiopia by 2034.