Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is one of the least urbanised countries in the world. Just 13 per cent of the population live in urban areas, and close to 40 per cent live below the poverty line.
What are the eye health problems?
The rate of blindness and low-vision in Papua New Guinea is the highest in the Pacific. A national survey carried out in 2017 found an estimated 5.6 per cent of adults aged over 50 were blind, and two out of every three people with refractive error did not have the right glasses. The most common cause of blindness and visual impairment is still cataracts.
Due to low levels of education and literacy and restricted communication networks, there's a widespread lack of understanding about health problems and the benefits of health care and medical treatments. Many people don’t realise they have an eye problem or that they can get treatment.
Our work in Papua New Guinea
For the past 13 years, we've worked with local eye care and health organisations, the National Department of Health, and provincial health authorities to tackle avoidable blindness.
Papua New Guinea should have at least 90 eye doctors, yet currently, there are only 12. We are committed to working with our partners to help meet the critical shortage. In 2007 we set up eye nurse training in partnership with Divine Word University, with a total of 120 graduates to date.
Since 2007 we've managed the Madang Eye Clinic at Madang Provincial Hospital in Madang Province. The clinic provides comprehensive eye care services and surgery. We also provide eye care services to rural populations through regular outreaches.
Progress in sight
- The 2017 Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness plus Diabetic Retinopathy provides valuable information to inform our eye care programmes.
- In 2021, a locally led research initiative to understand gender barriers to eye health services was commissioned. The first phase of the research has been completed.
- In 2022, an innovative solar system in a box was installed at the Madang Eye Clinic. This system provides reliable and renewable power so that
critical eye surgery in Papua New Guinea can continue without worry about power interruptions.
In Papua New Guinea, there are:
- 12 active Foundation-supported eye doctors (of which 2 are Foundation-sponsored graduates)
- 4 Foundation-sponsored trainee eye doctors
- 94 active Foundation-supported eye nurses and eye care clinicians (of which 90 are Foundation-sponsored graduates)
- 130 Foundation-sponsored eye nurse and eye care clinician graduates
2023 Key Highlights
- 2 trainee eye-doctors completed a further year of study towards a Master of Medicine in Ophthalmology from the University of Papua New Guinea
- 10 eye nurses graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Eye Care from Divine Word University
- 11,767 consultations provided
- 1,104 sight-saving surgeries performed.
- 2,155 spectacles were dispensed.
- 24 outreaches made eye care services accessible to communities across PNG.
- 8 eye care professionals participated in Advanced Gender Equality and Diversity (GED) Training
- 2 eye nurses completed a Bachelor of Health Management from Divine Word University
- 1 eye nurse completed a Master of Leadership in Development from Divine Word University