New Zealand High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Peter Zwart; Elias Kapavore, PNG Minister for Health; Miriam Carter, Australian High Commission Counsellor at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new eye health centre. Photo: Fred Hollows Foundation NZ
A groundbreaking ceremony has been held for a new Centre for Eye Health in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.
The chief executive of the Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, Dr Audrey Aumua, said there is a lot of need there.
"With one of the highest rates of avoidable blindness and vision impairment, and some of the most challenging development indicators in the world, it is vital that investment in PNG's health system is significantly increased," she said.
"In recent years, research and data have made it clear that more eye care support is required in PNG."
The Foundation said it's estimated that 5.6 percent of PNG's population aged over 50 years old is living with blindness, and a further 21.1 percent of people are experiencing vision impairment.
Ninety percent of this blindness is due to cataracts, and therefore preventable and treatable.
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Site preparation and enabling works for the Centre will start this month and construction of the Centre will progress through to May 2026.
An artist's rendering of the new PNG Centre for Eye Health. Photo: Fred Hollows Foundation NZ
The Foundation said that, as well as expanding training for eye health professionals, the Centre for Eye Health will provide services including the country's first dedicated diabetic retinopathy clinic and paediatric ophthalmology services.
The University of Papua New Guinea's School of Medical and Health Sciences executive dean Professor Nakapi Tefuarani said that despite the high need in PNG, only 7 provinces out of 22 currently have a resident eye doctor.
"We have found that training local eye care specialists, who will go on to deliver services in their own communities, is the best way to secure long-term improvements in eye health," he said.
"The country's aim is to have at least one eye doctor and a team of eye nurses for every province."
During the ceremony it was announced the Australian government would provide $3.1million in funding towards the $33m project, adding to an earlier NZ government commitment of $18.9m.
The Centre is also being funded with support from the Latter-day Saints Charities who have committed $5.5 million, and approximately $8.5m from The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ.
PNG's Health Minister Elias Kapavore said that this investment in eye health is an investment into PNG's future.