Optometrists volunteering for at least 3 weeks in Unite For Sight's programs in Ghana and Thailand will receive a free airline ticket to participate. Optometrists and ophthalmologists who are fully licensed to practice optometry and ophthalmology and who are interested in participating should complete the application on Unite For Sight's website: http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer
The optometrist volunteers will work with Unite For Sight's local eye clinic partners, who have requested volunteer optometrists to assist their long-term work to improve eye health and eliminate preventable blindness.
Dr. Ilechie, Lecturer, Department of Optometry, University of Cape Coast, Ghana; Unite For Sight Optometrist in Ghana says:
"There are over 20 million people in Ghana today. This will nearly double to 35 million by the year 2020. It has been recognized that the major cause of increasing numbers of visually impaired Ghanaians is the lack of qualified eye care staff in the country. There are only 48 qualified optometrists in Ghana. This includes those with University Post Diploma training from Kwame Nkrumah University, and Ghanaians trained in recognized programs in other countries. Overall, there is 1 optometrist per 396,000 people, whereas worldwide Vision2020 recommends 1 optometrist per 50,000 people. There is no realistic plan to increase the number by the year 2008, when the two training institutions (KNUST and UCC) shall be graduating their first set of Doctors of Optometry.
There are 43 ophthalmologists in Ghana in 2002 (1 ophthalmologist per 442,000 people). Their number has been dropping because greater numbers have left the country than have been trained (brain drain). The question which arises, is that who cares for over 9 million people with visual needs in the over 1,000 Ghanaian communities. The goal of Unite For Sight since its inception in Ghana is to foster and promote volunteer optometric and ophthalmic services free of charge to people in Ghana. So far, we have served over 100,000 people from the various communities.
If you are an optometrist or eye care practitioner touched by this message, Unite For Sight and Ghana invites you to lend your wealth of experience to disenfranchised Ghanaians so that we can all make a significant impact in their lives. Thank you."
Dr. Seth Wanye, Ophthalmologist, Eye Clinic of Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana says:
"The first volunteers of Unite For Sight (UFS) arrived in Tamale in August 2005. This team of two was made up of one ophthalmologist and a student volunteer. Community and school eye screening which was previously done once in two months was intensified, and these were done twice or more a week. Through that, several patients with cataract, glaucoma, trachoma and refractive error especially amongst school children were identified, among others.
The volunteer ophthalmologist and the host ophthalmologist, Dr. Seth Wanye, operated those who accepted surgery, and Unite For Sight paid for the cost of their surgery. As the number of UFS volunteers increased in 2006, more and more people have been screened. Those who needed surgery have their surgery cost paid by UFS. Those with refractive error of various forms receive free corrective glasses brought by the volunteers. From August 2005 to August 2006, more than 12,000 people have been screened by the UFS volunteers and the eye clinic staff including the ophthalmologist. 712 operable cataract cases were identified, out of which 447 had regained their sight through cataract surgery that was sponsored by UFS. Over 6,000 eyeglasses have been distributed to both adults and schoolchildren who were identified to have refractive error. School eye health educational talks were organized, and UFS volunteers played a very active role in this exercise.
In conclusion, I must say that Unite for Sight volunteers have come to give hope to the people of Tamale and Northern Region, and all of us appreciate the wonderful work these volunteers are doing for these poor and vulnerable people who otherwise would not have access to quality eye care services.
God bless you for your good works, and we hope you would continue to offer your services even more as we struggle with the almost nonexistent resources both human and material in an attempt to give the poor people of Northern Region the Right to Sight. We need you more than ever to be able to achieve the VISION 2020 goal of the Right to Sight for all by the year 2020."
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