There is a shortage of refractive error services in Papua New Guinea. There are a limited number of eye care nurses, trained in refraction, to serve a population of nearly 6 million people. Spectacles are available in city centres, but they are out of reach for the urban poor and those living in rural and remote areas.

In PNG ICEE is:

• Create capacity through the establishment of PNG Eye Care, intended to develop local systems of eye care and affordable spectacles provision.
• Training Optical Workshop Technicians to produce and distribute affordable, high quality spectacles.
• Establishing and equipping an optical workshop to service Port Moresby and other communities in need of eye care services.
• Increasing access to refractive error services.
• Providing affordable, high quality, spectacles to the community.
• Increasing awareness about the availability of refractive error services and usage of spectacles
• In collaboration with Oil Search Ltd, ICEE is organising service delivery trips to the Southern Highlands province.
• Encouraging volunteer optometrists to participate in the Service Delivery Programme.

PNG Eye Care

To watch the launch of PNG Eye Care > click here

PNG Eye Care is an initiative of ICEE.

PNG Eye Care was established

1. To create local capacity.
2. To create local jobs and ensure skills transfer
3. To build sustainable delivery systems for spectacles

PNG Eye Care Optical Workshop Port Moresby

PNG Eye Care Optical Workshop in Port Moresby is about establishing a sustainable supply of spectacles in PNG.

ICEE Programmes Manager Gerd Schlenther describes the origin of PNG Eye Care, “Discussions were held with ophthalmologists including Dr Jambi Garap and the Chief Ophthalmologist, Dr Kerek. These discussions concluded with signing of a Letter of Agreement with the Port Moresby General Hospital in May 2007. The agreement was to develop of an appropriate and effective optical workshop for servicing Port Moresby and other areas in need”.

Service Delivery

ICEE aims to address shortages in eye care services by working with locally established organisations and offering optometrists the opportunity to volunteer.

Logistical support for service delivery in PNG is provided by Oil Search Ltd.

The following objectives are achieved:

1. Increased access to optometric examinations in remote areas that currently have no access to eye care
2. Develop pathways for prescription and supply of spectacles
3. Follow up examinations with required referrals to available ophthalmologist
4. Provide Australian optometrists the opportunity to volunteer their time and skills