Ivan

In Papua New Guinea, accessing eye care is a significant challenge. With a critical shortage of eye doctors, many people in remote communities go without the treatment they need. That’s why we support Outreach Teams to travel to places like Kerema, providing specialist care and life-changing surgeries to those who would otherwise have no options.

Ivan is one of the many people who have benefited from these outreaches. He lives in a small village on the Gulf Province coastline, a 35-minute boat ride and an hour’s walk from Kerema.

For much of his life, Ivan worked as a land officer for a logging company, but in 2011, an accident changed everything. While chopping firewood, a chip struck his eye. Although he managed to remove it, a cataract formed and vision began deteriorating While he was using the computer at work, he had to wear sunglasses because of the glare caused by the cataract. By 2017, Ivan described his sight as “very dusty,” and everyday tasks became nearly impossible.

Eventually, Ivan was laid off from his job along with many others. Gardening became his family’s primary source of food, but as his eyesight worsened, even that became impossible. His wife started running a small roadside shop selling biscuits and rice to help make ends meet.

When Ivan’s cousin told him about the upcoming surgical outreach at Kerema Provincial Hospital, he knew it was his chance to regain his sight. Despite the difficult journey, he was determined to make it.

The Outreach Team had set up at Kerema Provincial Hospital, screening patients, performing sight-restoring surgeries, and distributing glasses. For Ivan, this meant cataract surgery that would transform his life.

After the surgery, Ivan waited patiently as his eye recovered. When the bandage was removed, his world began to brighten as his sight improved over the following days.

Today, Ivan spends his time tracing his family’s genealogy using a tablet he powers in town, where electricity is available. With his sight restored, he has a renewed sense of purpose and can once again contribute to his family and community.

Outreaches like the one in Kerema bring critical eye care to people who would otherwise miss out. Your support makes this life-changing work possible. Together, we can restore sight and independence to more people like Ivan.