ICEE Where we work - Papua New Guinea

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Papua New Guinea

Country Snap Shot & Eyecare Profile

Country	Papua New Guinea
Region	Western Pacific
Capital	Port Moresby
Area	462,840
*Population	5,670,544
*Population Below Poverty Line	37%
*Infant Mortality/1000 births	49.96
*GDP Per Capita ($US)	$2,600
Schools of Optometry	0
Optometrists	NA
Opticians	NA
Ophthalmologists	9
Eye Health Workers	NA
Optometrist Association	No
Vision 2020 Signatory	No
Vision 2020 National Plan	No
National Eye Health Plan	No

*source http://www.cia.gov

Project Manager
Amanda Davis

Project Personnel
Gerd Schlenther, John Farmer

Project Aim

To conduct refraction and eye care training for nurses in Papua New Guinea.
To establish an optical workshop in Papua New Guinea.

Project Commencement
2004

Project Background/History
Papua New Guinea comprises of the eastern half of the island of New Guinea; and the islands of New Ireland, New Britain, Bougainville and other small islands in the Coral Sea. It has a population of over five and a half million people, eighty five percent of whom live in rural areas. The mountainous terrain of Papua New Guinea creates difficulty in exploitation of its wealth of natural resources. There is a great welfare disparity between the rural and urban dwellers.

There are nine ophthalmologists in Papua New Guinea, four practise in the capital city of Port Moresby, and the others in provincial hospital eye clinics. Eyecare services are also provided by nurses at clinics and outreach eye care services are organised by the hospital in Port Moresby and a number of Non-Government Organisations. ICEE’s contribution to eye care in Papua New Guinea commenced after the National Eye Care Planning workshop in 2002.

Project Activities
In 2004, ICEE conducted a refraction training course for nurses.

In 2005, a Train the Trainers workshop was held in Port Moresby. The nurses learnt about communication skills, how people learn and how to effectively teach knowledge, skills and attitude related to eye care at the workshop.

In 2006, ICEE participated in the National Eye Care Workshop held in Madang. During the workshop, ways were examined of overcoming the barriers to eye care in the country. Participants included ophthalmologists, hospital executives, health system administrators, nurses and various representatives from Non-Government Organisations. The recognition and creation of eye care nurse positions and the lack of adequate equipment, were listed amongst the priorities to be addressed at the workshop.

ICEE is committed to the establishment of an optical workshop at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

Project Achievements
Train the Trainers Workshop for Nurses
Refraction Course for Nurses
Contributed to PNG National Eye Care Workshops

Project Partners
Department of Health, Papua New Guinea

Project Sponsors
Government of Papua New Guinea

Personal Story