A group of students from St Charles Lwanga Secondary School in the National Capital District (NCD) were the first to receive customized prescription glasses yesterday , following a comprehensive eye screening and refraction program organized by the Laila Foundation in partnership with Pacific International Hospital through its Eye Care Plus division.
The initiative was originally launched by Health Minister Elias Kapavore on World Sight Day in October 2025 at Gordons Secondary School. The aim is to screen students across schools in NCD to detect refractive errors early and provide free corrective spectacles to students who need them.
Since the launch, approximately 2,000 students across several NCD schools, including Ted Diro Primary School, Gordons Secondary School, and St Charles Lwanga Secondary School, have undergone vision screening. The program plans to screen up to 20,000 students across the district over the coming months.
Students identified with vision below 6/9 were referred for further examination and refraction by optometrists from PIH’s Eye Care Plus service to determine their precise prescriptions.
The prescription lenses and frames were generously provided by the OneSight Essilor Foundation, enabling students to receive customized spectacles free of charge.
The event was attended by Secretary for Health Pascoe Kase, who commended the initiative and highlighted the importance of preventive health programs in schools.
“For many children, the difference between struggling in the classroom and succeeding is simply the ability to see clearly. Early detection of vision problems through school screening programs is a practical and effective way to support both child health and educational outcomes,” Mr Kase said.
Director of the Laila Foundation, Dr Amyna Sultan, highlighted the importance of advocacy and partnerships in making the initiative possible.
“Many children struggle in school simply because they cannot see clearly,” Dr Sultan said. “In many cases, the problem is a simple refractive error that can be corrected with a pair of spectacles. Through this program, we aim to ensure that no child’s education is limited by an undetected vision problem.”
Dr Sultan also encouraged other schools in the National Capital District to participate in the initiative.
“We invite schools across NCD to make vision screening a priority so that their students can benefit from early detection and access to corrective spectacles. Together, we can ensure that more children are able to see clearly and learn confidently.”
The program is supported by several partners, including Charity Vision and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose collaboration has strengthened efforts to improve access to eye care for school children.
The Principal of St Charles Lwanga Secondary School expressed appreciation to the program partners for bringing the initiative to the school and supporting students’ learning.
“We are grateful to the Laila Foundation and its partners for selecting our school for this important program. Clear vision is essential for learning, and this initiative will make a real difference to the students receiving their spectacles today,” the Principal said.
The event concluded with a demonstration of the vision screening process and interaction with students who benefited from the program.
The School Vision Screening Program reflects a growing collaboration between the public sector, private healthcare providers, and charitable partners to improve access to eye care services and promote early detection of vision problems among children across Papua New Guinea.
