More than 500 people from Simbu Province and the wider Highlands region are expected to receive sight-restoring cataract surgery through a major regional eye care outreach at Sir Joseph Nombri Memorial Kundiawa Provincial Hospital this month.
The Fred Hollows Foundation PNG, in partnership with the Simbu Provincial Health Authority (SiPHA), has been delivering the Highlands region’s largest eye care outreach of 2026 throughout June. As of Tuesday, the team had screened over 1,868 people, conducted more than 2,499 consultations, and booked 570 cataract patients for surgery – 231 of which have already been successfully completed, with more underway daily.
Eye screening was carried out across all six districts of Simbu Province, with patients also travelling in from across the wider Highlands region. To help ensure people requiring care are not left untreated, The Foundation has provided patient accommodation and meals for those travelling in for surgery, while SiPHA has waived all surgical fees. Together, these measures removed key barriers that prevent people from receiving treatment – particularly women, elderly people, and people living with disability.
The Fred Hollows Foundation PNG Country Manager Priscilla Sine Mal Peter says the number of patients presenting with cataract and other eye conditions is a clear sign that the need for accessible eye care across the Highlands remains significant.
“What we are seeing in Kundiawa is a clear reminder of the scale of unmet need for eye care across the Highlands and the country,” she says.
“This is why outreach services are so important. They bring care closer to people who may otherwise miss out, while also strengthening the partnerships and local eye health systems needed to make quality eye care more accessible in the long term.”
Many patients being treated during the outreach have been living with blindness or vision impairment for months, if not years. For them, restored sight is life changing.
“When someone can see again, the impact reaches far beyond that one person. It helps families, strengthens communities, and gives people the chance to return to the things that matter most – working, caring for loved ones, moving safely, reading, gardening, going to church, and taking part in community life,” she says.
This year’s outreach builds on the success of the first surgical outreach The Foundation and SiPHA supported in Simbu in 2025 – when close to 300 people received sight-restoring surgery. The two organisations formalised their partnership in October by signing a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at reducing avoidable blindness and improving eye care services in Simbu.
For SiPHA, the continued demand reinforces the importance of building stronger, more accessible eye care services for the province.
“This outreach shows what is possible when partners work together to meet a real health need in our communities,” says Dr. Ken Kassi, SiPHA Chief Executive Officer.
“Many people in Simbu have been living with avoidable blindness or vision impairment because specialist eye care has not been easy to access. With Sir Joseph Nombri Memorial Kundiawa Provincial Hospital not currently having a dedicated ophthalmologist, our partnership with The Fred Hollows Foundation PNG is helping fill an important service gap.
“By waiving surgical fees and supporting this outreach, SiPHA is helping more people access the care they need closer to home. This means restored sight for patients, greater independence for families, and stronger health services for our province.”
The outreach is supported by a contingent of 30 eye care professionals and community leaders drawn from across the Highlands. Surgical leadership has been provided by Dr Mulusew Melesse, The Foundation’s Teaching Ophthalmologist, alongside The Foundation’s Ophthalmologist Dr David Pahau and Dr Waimbe Wahamu from the National Department of Health. Dr Linda Lep from the Eastern Highlands Provincial Health Authority also provided surgical support during the first week of surgery.
The Foundation also acknowledges the wider network of provincial health authorities, health services, community leaders and national partners who have released staff, shared expertise and supported patients to access care throughout the outreach.
