We’re committed to doing even more than providing surgeries, which is why we partner with the Tongan Government to transform eye care systems and end avoidable blindness and vision impairment in the nation.
Tonga’s steep rise in obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease are the country’s most pressing health concerns.
An estimated 15% of Tongans aged 25–64 are affected by diabetes. However, most have not been diagnosed and don’t realise that diabetes can cause diabetes eye disease. If undiagnosed and untreated, diabetes eye disease (also known as diabetic retinopathy) can lead to irreversible blindness.
With a small population and a shortage of doctors, Tonga has historically relied on eye nurses and health workers to provide most eye health care services. This has meant people with threatening conditions had to wait for visiting teams to receive treatment.
In 2002 The Foundation began sending outreach teams to Tonga to provide eye health care services. Today, 13 Foundation-sponsored eye nurse graduates and two Foundation-sponsored eye doctors work in Tonga. These include Tongan-born Dr Duke Mataka, who completed his Master of Medicine (Ophthalmology) at The Pacific Eye Institute in Fiji, and Dr Antonio Taufaeteau who trained at Fiji National University before returning to his home island of Vava’u to deliver eye health care to his community.
The Foundation also supports the Vaiola Hospital Eye Clinic in Nuku’alofa, ensuring the clinic has essential eye care equipment.
We also raise awareness within the local health sector about diabetes and its effects on eye health. This involves training health nurses to recognise and refer diabetic patients to an eye clinic. This is crucial so that people diagnosed with diabetes, particularly those in remote villages where access to health care is limited, know they need to get their eyes checked.
In 2023, The Foundation’s partnership with the Tongan Ministry of Health facilitated:
An important addition to Tonga’s eye care services is the eye screening van, which began work in 2022. The van allows the local eye care team to travel to more remote areas, enabling the screening and earlier detection of eye health issues. Within a year of beginning operation, the van had conducted 4,738 eye consultations for local children.
The Foundation has recently extended its partnership agreement with the Government of Tonga, reaffirming our shared commitment to eliminating avoidable blindness and vision impairment in the country, and making quality eye health care accessible for all Tongans. As part of our long-term goal, we continue to train the local Tongan eye care workforce to ensure a sustainable, strong and locally-led eye care health system.
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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