By Sasha Pei-Silovo – EM TV Online
The Fred Hollows Eye Surgery team will be in Kavieng, from March 23 to April 4, 2015.
This was announced by Helpim Niu Ailan Helt.
Persons with vision impairments are urged to visit the Kavieng Eye Clinic, to undergo screening. Patients, who have already registered for surgery, are being notified of the team’s second outreach to the province, through their respective local level governments (LLGs).
Last year, the Fred Hollows Foundation team performed cataract operations on 143 people, at the Namatanai Hospital, in the New Ireland Province.
The five-days of surgery was made possible through the joint initiative of the Kavieng Hospital’s Ophthalmology Unit, Australian Doctors International (ADI) and Namatanai Rural Hospital, with support from the Provincial Government, Namatanai District Administration, local MP, Byron Chan and Newcrest Mining Limited.
In Papua New Guinea, the prevalence proportion of vision impairment is very high, commonly caused by refractive error and cataract, according to a survey conducted by the Fred Hollows Foundation.
There is great need, in the country, for a well trained eye healthcare workforce and facilities, to treat vision impaired patients.
The foundation, in partnership with the Divine Word University in Madang, established an eye-nurse training programme in 2007 and also refurbished the eye clinic at the Modilon General Hospital.
In November, 2014, the foundation again partnered with the Divine Word University, and Modilon General Hospital, to successfully open Papua New Guinea’s first eye theatre, in Madang.
