Community health workers play a vital role in primary health care delivery in sub-Saharan Africa. They help the poor overcome barriers to accessing effective healthcare in the absence of physicians and nurses.

Community health workers form the bulk of the primary health care work force in sub-Saharan Africa. They must have the appropriate knowledge and skills to render basic health services, including primary eye care. The role of community health workers in primary eye care is primarily health promotion, but they can also be trained to detect common eye conditions and promote appropriate referral. Practical retraining and supervision to achieve primary eye care integration into primary healthcare services have been recommended for community health workers in Nigeria.