The Laila Foundation is anticipating completing the Free Eye Screening Program for Gerehu Secondary School by next week, with the aim to test all current 3,000 student population.
Director of Laila Foundation – Mr. Aly Sultan made this known in a Media Conference today at Gerehu Secondary School, Port Moresby city.
He said so far, they have already done screening for Grades 9 and 10, which is half of the 3,000 population, and are expected to complete the process next week with the screening and testing of Grades 11 and 12.
Since the inauguration of this program in October 2025, Laila Foundation with the help of their partners, have done vision screening for 4,368 students across nine (9) secondary schools in NCD. Free custom-made prescription glasses were given to students with undiagnosed vision problems and refractive errors, to help support and boost their learning in the classroom.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to see clearly and learn with confidence. A child who cannot see the blackboard cannot fully participate in the classroom. Sometimes the difference between a struggling student and a successful student is simply a pair of glasses, and that’s why we’re here today,” said Mr. Sultan.
While thanking the Foundation for choosing Gerehu Secondary as one of the schools for the vision screening program, school Principal – Mr. Saju Francis said that for the past 23 years of his teaching carrier in Papua New Guinea, he has witnessed many students forced to withdraw from schooling because of poor eyesight or faced with vision impaired problems.
He said that many students come from less fortunate homes and simply cannot afford specialist treatments when faced with eyesight complications.
"The Laila Foundation initiative is not only a health care initiative but also a blessing for our students, and a better investment for their future. I deeply appreciate the Laila foundation for extending these services to all our students, particularly those students who may not otherwise have easy access to eye care services,” said Mr. Francis.
The principal reiterated that most students come from broken families, poor families and marginalized families, but they are very talented and have the potential to be top performing students. And with such initiatives, the foundation is contributing immensely to the future of Papua New Guinea.
CEO & Director of Pacific International Hospital – Mr. Sandeep Shaligrim said that the initial target is to support all the schools in NCD, to screen and provide free glasses to those that need it. Once that is achieved, they will roll-out this initiative to other centres, eventually becoming a nationwide program.
He said PIH is a major partner to Laila Foundation for over 30 years, in terms of providing logistics and the technical support and expertise where it’s needed.
Mr. Shaligrim commends Laila Foundation for its continued efforts in eye care health, while their services have changed, is changing and will change the lives of many young Papua New Guineans, especially those with visual impairments.
He said this is an opportunity they are providing for free technical and medically screening process, but not only that, if they notice any other eye defect, then they will do referral for the patient to see an ophthalmologist, where they will receive further treatment and assistant.
The Foundation’s vision is to take the sight by this program to many more schools across Papua New Guinea, so that every child has the opportunity to see clearly and achieve their dreams.
