The Sir Brian Bell Foundation and The Fred Hollows Foundation PNG have announced a new strategic partnership, working together to strengthen eye care in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Through the partnership, the two Foundations will support the training of eye care specialists and support the new PNG Centre for Eye Health, scheduled to open in late 2026.
PNG has one of the highest rates of avoidable blindness and vision impairment globally, and the highest known rate in the Pacific. A national survey carried out in 2017 found that an estimated 5.6 per cent of people aged over 50 are blind, and a further 21.1 per cent live with vision impairment.
Approximately 90 per cent of this blindness is preventable or treatable, however, a shortage of eye care specialists, limited healthcare facilities, and the challenges of reaching remote and rural communities has left millions without access to basic healthcare services.
At the same time, PNG also faces the challenge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, which if poorly managed can lead to diabetic retinopathy (DR). Left untreated, DR can result in irreversible vision loss and blindness. The current lack of DR services, eye glasses and low vision devices in PNG, means every person with diabetes is at high risk of vision loss.
This partnership is committed to addressing these challenges, firstly by contributing to the growth of the local eye care workforce. Notably, the Sir Brian Bell Foundation will fund the training of three eye care nurses each year, for the next three years, through the Advanced Diploma in Eye Care at Divine Word University.
This builds on more than two decades of training support in PNG, with The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, through its local presence, having helped train 141 eye nurses and clinicians, and 12 eye doctors to date, creating a pipeline of specialists who now staff clinics and support outreach across PNG’s provinces.
Bronwyn Wright, CEO of the Sir Brian Bell Foundation says this partnership is focused on reaching people earlier and closer to home, so avoidable vision loss is treated before it becomes permanent.
“With PNG’s population projected to exceed 21 million by 2050, the need for trained eye care professionals, accessible services, and long-term infrastructure will only continue to grow – and we’re proud to help build that capacity,” she says.
The construction of a purpose-built eye care training and service centre, being delivered by The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ and its local partners, also demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening PNG’s eye healthcare system and ensuring its long-term sustainability.
The PNG Centre for Eye Health, currently being built in Port Moresby, is located on the shared grounds of Port Moresby General Hospital and the University of Papua New Guinea’s School of Medical and Health Sciences. The Centre will not only expand training for eye care professionals, but will also provide specialised eye care services, including the country’s first dedicated DR clinic and paediatric ophthalmology services. It will also support research, innovation, coordination, and leadership across the sector.
Dr Audrey Aumua, Chief Executive Officer of The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, says the impact of this collaboration will be far-reaching.
“Restoring sight allows adults to return to work, enables children to stay in school, and takes pressure off families. Through this partnership, real progress is being made toward ensuring that preventable blindness no longer limits the potential of individuals or communities,” she says.
“Together, the two foundations are investing in practical, locally led solutions to build a stronger eye healthcare system for Papua New Guinea.”
Both organisations bring decades of experience working in PNG. The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ continues the work of a legendary New Zealander, the late Professor Fred Hollows. Fred was an internationally acclaimed eye surgeon and social justice activist who championed the right of all people to high quality and affordable eye care. The Sir Brian Bell Foundation continues the vision of Sir Brian Bell, whose decades of service and philanthropy helped build stronger,
healthier communities across PNG.
