The capacity for eye operations in the Pacific has increased by 30 percent with the opening of the state-of-the-art Regional Eye Centre in Solomon Islands.
The 3.2 million US dollar facility, funded by New Zealand's aid programme, was designed and built by the Fred Hollows Foundation in collaboration with the country's health ministry.
At the opening, prime minister Manasseh Sogavare thanked the organisation for supporting the training of the 21 doctors and nurses who will operate the centre.
The centre will work with the Fiji-based Pacific Eye Institute for tertiary eye care in the region.
Eye care is lacking in many parts of the Pacific. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades
