Papua New Guinea, with a population of nearly 6 million, is one of the world's poorest countries, with half its people living on less than $1 per day.  It suffers the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the Pacific, has a high prevalence of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria and has a well documented AIDS epidemic.  There is a lack of trained staff at all levels of the health system. Currently seven eye doctors service the entire population when, ideally, there should be at least fifty five.

80% of PNG's people live in rural areas with few or no health care facilities. Many in the isolated mountainous interior have little contact with the outside world and depend on subsistence agriculture. Linguistically, it is the world's most diverse country, with more than 800 native tongues.

At least 50,000 in PNG are blind, with an additional 10,000 new cases each year.  A further 180,000 have poor vision. Cataract account for 70% of blindness, followed by refractive error, corneal diseases and trauma - all treatable conditions.

The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ coordinates a large, multi-year eye health program in Papua New Guinea. In partnership with the National Department of Health, the University of PNG, Port Moresby General Hospital and Divine Word University in Madang, the program focuses on training desperately needed eye doctors and equipping eye clinics to provide more services to prevent and treat blindness.    Find out more.