A national survey on water related disease Trachoma is underway in Papua New Guinea.
Trachoma is an infection of the eyes that may result in blindness after repeated re-infections.
It is the world's leading cause of preventable blindness and occurs where people live in overcrowded conditions with limited access to water and health care.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that six million people worldwide are blind due to trachoma and more than 150 million people are in need of treatment.
Chief eye doctor in PNG Dr Simon Melengas said with the dry season affecting the country, this disease is most likely to affect the communities.
Dr Melengas said the aim of the survey is to establish if we have a problem that needs to be addressed.
The survey, carried out by PNG Eye Care and National Prevention of Blindness Committee, started in Central Province and will be also carried out in Milne Bay, East New Britain and the Highlands Region.
He said trachoma is common in children however they have not had reports of the disease yet in the country although a few patients in Madang and Rabaul have shown symptoms.
Infection usually first occurs in childhood but people do not became blind until adulthood.
Trachoma spreads easily from person to person and through the discharge from an infected child's eyes, trachoma is passed on by hands, on clothing, or by flies that land on the face of the infected child.
Dr Melengas warned people about the symptoms which include eye itchiness, watery, redness and irritable.
He urged people to take care during the dry season by improving personal hygiene and sanitation and reducing fly breeding sites.
Dr Melengas encouraged the washing of children's faces, improved access to water, and proper disposal of human and animal waste to prevent trachoma infections in communities.