Papua New Guinea faces the most critical shortage of eye care workers in the Pacific region.
Located in Madang, the Madang Provincial Hospital Eye Clinic, in partnership with Divine Word University, hosts the country’s only eye nurse training programme. This initiative plays a vital role in combating avoidable blindness and building the local eye care workforce.
Madang Eye Unit, Madang Provincial Hospital Modilon Road, Madang
Opening hours
Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday – Sunday & public holidays: CLOSED
In 2007, in partnership with Divine Word University and Madang Provincial Hospital, we launched a comprehensive eye nurse training programme in Madang. This initiative has since played a critical role in addressing avoidable blindness across the country by equipping qualified nurses to manage cataract blindness, refractive error, and other eye conditions. To this day, it remains the only training programme for eye nurses in Papua New Guinea.
Alongside the training programme, we refurbished the eye clinic at Madang Provincial Hospital, establishing it as a central hub for eye care in the region. The clinic provides a full range of services, including diabetic laser treatment, surgeries, and surgical outreaches that extend care to remote communities.
To meet the growing demand for eye care, an extensive upgrade of the clinic was conducted in 2014. New treatment rooms were added, and a dedicated operating theatre wing was constructed, significantly increasing the clinic’s capacity to deliver sight-restoring surgeries. The clinic now serves as a base for nationwide surgical outreaches, helping to reach the many Papua New Guineans living in rural areas who otherwise lack access to eye care.
In 2022, a solar energy solution was implemented to overcome frequent power outages and ensure uninterrupted surgeries. This innovation has cemented the Madang Eye Clinic’s status as a centre of excellence in eye care and training.
The Madang Eye Clinic is a shining example of how sustainable technology can support healthcare in the Pacific. In 2022, we partnered with Imperium Technologies and Timber Construction Solutions to install an innovative solar energy system. This system, funded by the Australian Government, the Pacific Development and Conservation Trust, and generous donors, ensures a reliable and renewable power supply for the clinic’s critical operations.
The solar solution, housed in a 20-foot shipping container, includes 160 photovoltaic panels and six high-capacity batteries, providing consistent power for the clinic’s operating theatres, computer servers, and other essential equipment. This sustainable design not only eliminates reliance on Papua New Guinea’s often-unreliable power grid but also enhances the clinic’s capacity to perform life-changing surgeries and deliver consistent services.
By integrating renewable energy, the clinic has improved efficiency, reduced operational costs, and expanded its ability to restore sight.
In 2023, the Madang Provincial Hospital Eye Clinic provided:
The Madang clinic is also the base for national surgical outreaches and local screening outreaches which in 2023 provided:
In partnership with Divine Word University, the Madang Provincial Hospital Eye Clinic has trained:
The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ is a registered charitable organisation under the Charities Act 2005.
Charities Commission registration number is CC23722.
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