MORE than 500 persons from Chimbu and across the Highlands are expected to regain their sight through a major cataract surgery outreach currently underway at Sir Joseph Nombri Memorial Kundiawa Provincial Hospital.
The initiative, led by The Fred Hollows Foundation PNG in partnership with the Chimbu Health Authority, is the largest eye health outreach conducted in the Highlands this year.
The foundation’s country manager, Priscilla Sine Mal Peter, said the high number of patients seeking treatment highlighted the ongoing need for accessible eye care services in the country.
“What we are seeing in Kundiawa is a clear reminder of the large unmet need for eye care services across the Highlands and the country,” Peter said.
“Outreach programmes like this bring services closer to people who may otherwise miss out on treatment that support long-term access to quality eye care.”
Since the programme began this month, medical teams have screened more than 1,868 persons and conducted more than 2,499 consultations.
A total of 570 cataract patients have been booked for surgery, with 231 surgeries already successfully completed and more being carried out daily.
Patients travelled from all six districts of Chimbu as well as other parts of the Highlands to access the free services.
To ensure patients receive treatment, The Fred Hollows Foundation provided accommodation and meals for those travelling long distances, while the health authority waived all surgical fees.
Many of the patients receiving treatment have been living with blindness or poor vision for months and, in some cases, years.
Peter said restoring a person’s sight had benefits that extended beyond the individual.
“When someone can see again, it improves not only their life but also the wellbeing of their family and community,” she said.
“It allows people to return to work, care for loved ones, move around safely and participate fully in community life.”
Health authority chief executive officer Dr Ken Kassi said the continuing demand for treatment demonstrated the need to strengthen eye care services in Chimbu.
“This outreach shows what can be achieved when partners work together to address a real health need in our communities,” he said.
“Many people have been living with avoidable blindness, because specialist eye care has not been easily accessible.”
Kassi said waiving surgical fees had enabled more people to access life-changing treatment closer to home.
The outreach enters its final week, with more patients expected to receive sight-restoring surgery before the programme ends.
