Gazette

A man of vision

24th June 2009 02:00:10 AM

John Farmer is helping to deliver affordable eye care to people in Papua New Guinea.

A LOCAL optometrist continues to improve the eyesight of Papua New Guineans, and will soon return to the country to help set up a second vision centre.

Leunig and Farmer Eyecare co-founding partner and optometrist John Farmer this month returned from his most recent trip to Papua New Guinea, where he was providing further training and support to the vision centre he established in the Port Moresby General Hospital last year.

The vision centre, which enables the community to access low-cost eye examinations and glasses where they are otherwise unavailable, has become increasingly busy since its opening in October last year.

Mr Farmer said it was rewarding to see the vision centre delivering affordable eye care to the people of Papua New Guinea.

“I have been given the opportunity to make a real significant difference and I am delighted to be doing just that,” he said.

The success of the Port Moresby Vision Centre will see a second one established in Papua New Guinea’s third largest city Mt Hagen, about 500kms north-west of the capital.

“Staff have already been appointed for this new vision centre, initial training has commenced and some stock has been delivered,” Mr Farmer said.

“There are many critical things we learnt through the set-up of the Port Moresby Vision Centre which will greatly assist this second centre.”

Leunig and Farmer Eyecare has a long-standing involvement in optometric training and development overseas.

In recent years, Papua New Guinea has been the focus of its support through Mr Farmer’s work.

The vision centres are sponsored by the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE), an Australian, non-profit organisation that delivers eye care programs worldwide.