A groundbreaking purpose-built eye care training and service centre in Port Moresby is aiming to tackle avoidable blindness and vision impairment throughout large parts of Papua New Guinea through unparalleled support for specialist eye care training for eye doctors, eye nurses and optometrists.

The significant milestone, set to become a reality by May 2026, comes following the Papua New Guinean eye-health sector's two decades of reliance on the wisdom of The Fred Hollows Foundation.

The first sod in the ground was recently turned where government officials from Australia and New Zealand were invited to do the honours after financially supporting a national centre for eye health.

The Australian government will provide $3.1m of funding towards the $33m project, with the New Zealand government committing a significant $18.9m in addition to $5.5m from the Latter-day Saints charities, and $8.5m from The Fred Hollows Foundation.

Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand's chief executive officer, Dr Audrey Aumua, said the impact the centre will have on Papua New Guineans is near unconscionable.

"In recent years, research and data have made it clear that more eye care support in PNG is required," she said at the ceremony.

"With one of the highest rates of avoidable blindness and vision impairment, and also some of the most challenging development indicators in the world, it is vital that investment into PNG's health system is significantly increased.

"The Foundation is responding to this, and to requests from our partners, by increasing our focus on supporting the training of more eye doctors and eye nurses.

"The establishment of a centre for eye health moves us closer to addressing this significant need and demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening the PNG's eye-health care system and ensuring its long-term sustainability."

Raw data estimates 5.6 per cent of the population aged older than 50 are living with a significant form of blindness, with a further 21.1 per cent of all residents experiencing vision impairment.

Ninety per cent of all blindness across PNG is preventable and treatable with a cost-effective intervention and process, providing a significant opportunity to impact the daily lives of up to 10.7 million people.

Prof Nakapi Tefuarani from the University of Papua New Guinea School of medical and health sciences, said despite the dire need for better eye-care across the nation, only seven of its 22 provinces have a resident eye doctor to cater for the basic needs of residents.

"We're responding to this need by increasing our focus and investment on supporting the training of more eye doctors," he said.

"This is key to the sustainability of eye health care systems in PNG since we have found that training local eye-care specialists, who will go on to deliver the vital services in their own communities, is the best way to secure long-term improvements in eye health.

"The country's aim is to have at least one eye doctor and a team of eye nurses for every province, resulting in a significant expansion of access to eye-health care services for communities across PNG."

As well as expanding training for eye health professionals, the Centre for Eye Health will provide specialised eye-care services, including PNG's first dedicated diabetic retinopathy clinic and paediatric ophthalmology services.

"(The centre) will be a hub for eye-care workforce training and support, eye-care service delivery and also for outreach, research, innovation, coordination and leadership," Prof Tefuarani said.

At the ceremony, PNG health minister Elias Kapavore said the centre will be a focal point to helping raise the standard of eye-health care services.

"By increasing the eye-care workforce and working in partnership with our national health department and provincial health authorities to meet their eye-care workforce needs, we aree aiming to reduce barriers to accessing eye-care services countrywide, supporting services to the most marginalised and remote communities," he said.

Mr Kapavore called the investment in eye health an investment into the health and future of PNG's people.

"It is transformative, helping people to unlock their potential in education and in employment, which contributes to workforce productivity, economic development, prosperity, and stability," he said.

The centre is also a key element of PNG's national eye health strategic plan for the next five years that will be jointly operated through Port Moresby General Hospital and the University of Papua New Guinea School of medicine and health sciences.

It will be supported by member organisations of the PNG National Prevention of Blindness committee that additionally includes The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ.