IIn a significant step forward for collaboration in eye health, The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tilganga Eye Hospital and Ophthalmology Training Institute (TIO) in Nepal. The new partnership will support collaboration between TIO and The Foundation with a focus on strengthening eye care services and training in Papua New Guinea. It will also create opportunities for mutual learning across country programmes, enabling the sharing of clinical knowledge, resources and training approaches.
The signing took place in Kathmandu during the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB’s) 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE event — a global gathering of leaders advancing the cause of ending avoidable blindness. The Foundation was represented by CEO Dr Audrey Aumua and Senior Pacific Programme Manager Komal Ram, who visited TIO to finalise the agreement. They were joined at the IN SIGHT LIVE event by PNG National Eye Coordinator Ben Zuvani, who also had the opportunity to visit TIO during the trip.
Continuing Fred’s legacy
This collaboration honours the vision of our founder, Professor Fred Hollows. TIO was co-founded by Dr Sanduk Ruit — Fred’s colleague, mentee and long-time friend. Together, they championed the development of affordable eye care, including the establishment of an intraocular lens (IOL) laboratory at Tilganga in 1995. This innovation has helped restore sight to millions by reducing the cost of cataract surgery.
The small incision cataract surgery (SICS) technique developed and refined by Dr Ruit is the same method taught at the Pacific Eye Institute (PEI), where the next generation of Pacific eye doctors are trained. Meeting Dr Ruit during the visit was a highlight for our team. Despite a busy schedule, he made time to personally express his support for the partnership, saying warmly: “We are happy to share and spare.”
Building local capacity through training
Fred believed there should always be three people in a room: a teacher, a student and a patient. He saw training as the key to sustainable change. That principle continues to guide our work. Training local eye doctors, nurses and health workers is one of the most effective ways to eliminate avoidable blindness.
Papua New Guinea has one of the highest rates of avoidable blindness and vision impairment in the world, and the highest known rate in the Pacific, so building a strong local eye care workforce is critical.
By partnering with a globally recognised training institution like TIO, The Foundation is expanding the support and learning opportunities available to our teams and graduates. This will help strengthen the eye health workforce in PNG — and across the Pacific.
