Free Airline Tickets For Optometrists and Ophthalmologists
Emirates Airline Foundation, in conjunction with the airline's frequent flyer program "Skywards" (http://www.skywards.com), has generously donated roundtrip economy class airfares for optometrists and ophthalmologists to work with Unite For Sight's partner eye clinics in Ghana. Ophthalmologists participating for at least 1 week, and optometrists participating for at least 4 weeks, are eligible for the donated airline tickets. Interested volunteers should apply to volunteer abroad online at http://www.uniteforsight.org/volunteer-abroad The donated airline tickets are limited and and subject to seat availability.
The communities where Unite For Sight works did not previously have access to eye care due to many barriers. In Tamale, Ghana, for example, Dr. Wanye is the only eye doctor for 2 million people in the entire region. Prior to Unite For Sigh'ts partnership, Dr. Wanye often went months without providing a single cataract surgery because the community members could not afford the $35 cost of surgery. Unite For Sight volunteers now work with him to assist with screening outreach programs, and Unite For Sight funds the cataract surgeries for the patients so that no one will remain blind due to lack of funds.
Support from Emirates Airline Foundation will enable Unite For Sight to send optometrists and ophthalmologists to work with our partner eye clinics in Ghana. Volunteer optometrists work with local optometrists and ophthalmic nurses to provide eye care in rural villages, while volunteer ophthalmologists work with the local ophthalmologists to provide ophthalmic care and surgeries. Visiting optometrists and ophthalmologists also provide skills transfer, thereby teaching new skills to the local eye clinic staff.
"Through the years, Emirates Airline Foundation has generously supported dozens of our volunteer optometrists and ophthalmologists to work with our eye clinic partners abroad," said Jennifer Staple, Founder, President and CEO of Unite For Sight. "We are very grateful for their support and for all that they are doing to provide sight-restoring eye care in Ghana."
Scott A. McMahen, Secretary of the Emirates Airline Foundation, said "We are delighted to help Unite For Sight transport doctors to Ghana. Many of the airline's frequent flyer members of Skywards have donated their miles to our Foundation, and we are continually funding transportation for many doctors who travel all over our route network to perform surgeries and provide healthcare to those less fortunate."