Papua New Guinea is an ecologically-rich tropical country cloaked in dense rainforest. Its mountainous landscape means that many remote communities are several days walk from medical care, while its mineral riches have not yet translated into universal access to quality health care.

The country is ranked 90th out of 108 countries in the United Nations Human Poverty Index. It has the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the Pacific, with a high prevalence of diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, and a growing HIV/AIDS epidemic. An estimated 38% of the population lives on under US$1 a day. Government expenditure on health is low (NZ$195 per capita annually, compared with New Zealand's NZ$2750), severely limiting funding available for eye care services or training. Rural health posts and urban hospitals are seriously under-resourced.

An estimated 58,000 people over 50 in PNG are blind, with an additional 10,000 cases each year. Cataracts account for 70% of blindness, followed by refractive error, corneal diseases and trauma - all commonly treatable conditions. A further 550,000 are estimated to have low vision, correctable with spectacles. Although the leading causes of blindness and low vision are usually treatable, most people do not have access to treatment either due to geographical isolation, lack of funds or lack of knowledge about treatment.

The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ coordinates a large, multi-year eye health program with its partners in PNG, focusing on training eye care workers and equipping eye clinics to prevent and treat blindness.  Find out more.