Africazine:
A groundbreaking achievement in global health has been marked by the recognition of Dr. Jambi Garap from Papua New Guinea.
Dr. Garap has been awarded the inaugural Gabi Hollows Award for Women Advancing Global Health and Development, acknowledging her pivotal role in enhancing eye health in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific. This award highlights the importance of women’s leadership in health, particularly in addressing avoidable blindness among women and girls.
Dr. Jambi Garap’s Impact on Eye Health
Dr. Jambi Garap has made significant strides in eye health advocacy since qualifying as an ophthalmologist in the late 1990s. She led the establishment of the National Prevention of Blindness Committee of PNG, which has become a leading body for eye health coordination in the Western Pacific.
Under her guidance, the committee successfully advocated for the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness in 2017, marking a significant milestone as the first survey of its kind in the region. This initiative, along with the completion of the Global Trachoma Mapping Project in 2015, has transformed decision-making in eye health based on critical data.
Papua New Guinea: Key figures on eye health initiatives
- 2017: Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness conducted
- 2015: Global Trachoma Mapping Project completed
- May 2022: WHO validated PNG’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem
Advocacy for Women’s Health Leadership
Dr. Garap emphasizes the need for more women in health leadership roles to tackle the barriers faced by women and girls in accessing health services. Her work not only addresses immediate health concerns but also aims for long-term systemic changes in healthcare infrastructure.
She has been instrumental in advocating for the upgrade of the Port Moresby General Hospital Eye Clinic and the establishment of the PNG Centre for Eye Health, as well as a national teaching centre for ophthalmology at the University of Papua New Guinea.
Future Directions in Eye Health
- Continued advocacy for women’s leadership in health
- Upgrading facilities at Port Moresby General Hospital Eye Clinic
- Development of the PNG Centre for Eye Health
- Establishment of a national teaching centre for ophthalmology
Dr. Jambi Garap’s recognition is a powerful reminder of the vital role women play in advancing health equity.
