who we are

The Pacific Eye Institute is an initiative of The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ. The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ is a non profit organisation committed to eradicating avoidable blindness in developing countries. It has established programs throughout the Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. The Pacific regional program focuses on the delivery of longer term, accredited training for eye health workers from throughout the region, with courses delivered through the Pacific Eye Institute. Emphasis is placed on supporting graduates of these courses back in their own countries with essential infrastructure, ongoing training, and working with ministries of health to ensure the eye health workers are best enabled to perform the tasks they have been trained to do. To date the program has included collaborations with ministries of health and eye care personnel of Fiji, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Niue, Nauru, Samoa, the Cook Islands and Tonga. The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ is committed to long-term sustainability, which means working with local people to ensure they are trained and equipped to continue sight restoring work without being dependent on outside help and support. The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ’s approach is flexible, responsive and systematic. It works collaboratively with local communities, non-government organisations, governments, corporate and philanthropic groups.
Find out more about The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ.

THE PACIFIC EYE INSTITUTE TEAM

DR JOHN SZETU (MBBS, DO, Master of Ophthalmology Bristol) Director, Pacific Eye Institute and Regional Medical Advisor, The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ

Dr John Szetu has an impressive track record in designing and implementing training courses for eye care nurses and supervising registrars in the Pacific. His successful programs in training and clinical service in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands are held in high regard throughout the Pacific eye health sector. Prior to establishing the Pacific Eye Institute, Dr Szetu spent five years in Vanuatu implementing a successful national eye health program with the support of The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ.