International Volunteer Opportunities Details
Details for Pondicherry, India
Flexible dates for 4 weeks or more.
Unite For Sight's volunteers work with Aravind's newest eye clinic in Pondicherry, India. Volunteers have an opportunity to pursue research under the guidance of the eye clinic's ophthalmologists. In addition to research, volunteers also have the opportunity to participate in rural eye camps and observe surgery.
Medical students, public health students and professionals, residents, and eye doctors are ideally suited to this program.
Accommodation is provided for $100/week at the Park Guest House (Aurobindo Ashram property in Pondicherry - 8 kms from the hospital)
Requirements:Minimum age: 22 years
Experience: Public health degree, or completion of at least the third year of medical school. For medical students, an ophthalmologist from the volunteer's home institution must be identified as a research mentor.
India
- There are an estimated 45 million blind people and 135 million visually impaired people worldwide.
- 80% of blindness is preventable or curable.
- There are 8.9 million blind people in India. 23.5% of the world's blind live in India.
- There are 11,000 ophthalmologists, which is 1 ophthalmologist per 95,414 people.
- Cataract blindness affects 5.3% of adults over the age of 50.
- 62.4% of bilateral blindness in adults over the age of 50 is due to cataract, which can be cured.