The Fred Hollows Foundation has recognised Papua New Guinean ophthalmologist Dr Jambi Garap as the inaugural recipient of the Gabi Hollows Award for Women Advancing Global Health and Development.
The award recognises exceptional women progressing health equity and leadership and comes as The Foundation shines a light on the impact of avoidable blindness among women and girls in the Pacific at the Women Deliver conference in Melbourne.
Named in honour of Gabi Hollows AO – orthoptist, humanitarian, and co-founder of The Fred Hollows Foundation – the award reflects Ms Hollow’s lifelong commitment to equity, locally led solutions, and women’s leadership in health.
Since qualifying as an ophthalmologist in the late 1990s, Dr Garap has played a central role in building and coordinating eye health in Papua New Guinea.
We need more women in health leadership positions so we can overcome the barriers women and girls face in accessing health services
She led the development of the National Prevention of Blindness Committee of PNG, now recognised across the Western Pacific as one of the region’s most effective eye health advocacy and coordination bodies.
Under her leadership, Papua New Guinea delivered a Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness in 2017 and completed the Global Trachoma Mapping Project in 2015. As a result of the survey and Dr Jambi’s leadership, The World Health Organization officially validated Papua New Guinea as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem in May 2025.
“It’s an honour to be the inaugural recipient of the Gabi Hollows Award and I know this will inspire women in health leadership across the Pacific,” Dr Garap said.
“We need more women in health leadership positions so we can overcome the barriers women and girls face in accessing health services.
“Gender equality is at the heart of eye health and it’s vital we continue to push for more women in health leadership positions to make inroads into the barriers women and girls face in accessing eye health care.”
Ms Hollows said when women are supported to lead, “we see better outcomes for families and communities”.
“That’s something we’ve believed in from the very beginning.”
The award forms part of The Foundation’s presence at the Women Deliver conference. More than 6,500 people, including advocates, leaders, and activists from over 170 countries, are attending the Women Deliver 2026 Conference in Melbourne. The event brings together diverse voices to discuss gender equality, making it one of the world’s largest gatherings of its kind.
