Immense Impact and Quality
The Unite For Sight Global Impact Corps provides participants with a comprehensive and unrivaled opportunity to participate in effective and unique global health delivery programs. Global Impact Fellows work with and learn from local medical professionals who lead and manage the programs that eliminate patient barriers to care.
Overview
Locations: 10 eye clinic partners in Ghana, Honduras, and India
Eye Care Services Provided To: 1,000,000
Sight-Restoring Surgeries: 35,646
- Our innovative programs have provided the highest quality of care to 1,000,000 of the world's poorest people, including 35,646 sight-restoring surgeries. The eye care is provided by local eye doctors.The communities where we work did not previously have access to eye care due to many barriers. Unite For Sight's model has enabled local eye clinics to create real change and a sustainable impact for those living in extreme poverty.
- With Unite For Sight's investments of human and financial resources, the eye clinics eliminate patient barriers to care by fully funding surgeries, bringing eye care services by local eye care professionals to the patients, providing transportation to the eye clinic for surgery as needed, and educating communities about blindness elimination.
- The eye care services are comprehensive, including examinations by local eye doctors, diagnosis and care for all treatable conditions, education, and prevention. This full range of services is delivered to the population year-round.
Two Examples of Unite For Sight's Success
During 2009, 46% of all cataract surgeries done in Ghana were provided for patients living in extreme poverty by Unite For Sight's four partner eye clinics. These 8,060 sight-restoring surgeries were coordinated and sponsored by Unite For Sight, and provided by our four Ghanaian ophthalmologist partners. During 2008, Unite For Sight sponsored 5,011 of the 14,053 cataract surgeries done by Ghana eye clinics, which is 36% of all cataract surgeries done in Ghana. Five of the 45 ophthalmologists in Ghana are now partners of Unite For Sight, and these five ophthalmologists are providing more than half of all surgeries done in the country.
Eye Care in Tamale, Ghana
In Tamale, Ghana, ophthalmologist Dr. Wanye is the only eye doctor for 2 million people in the entire region. Prior to working with Unite For Sight, Dr. Wanye often went months without performing a single cataract surgery because the community members could not afford the cost of surgery. Since 2005, Unite For Sight has provided human and financial resources for Dr. Wanye's programs. With the support of Unite For Sight, Dr. Wanye now provides over 2,500 cataract surgeries each year. Additionally, Dr. Wanye and his team provide eye care for more than 65,000 patients per year who are living in extreme poverty.
Eye Care in Accra, Ghana
In Accra, Ghana, Unite For Sight's support has enabled Crystal Eye Clinic to more than quadruple its annual number of surgeries, and 86% of the surgeries are now provided to patients living in extreme poverty. Unite For Sight annually sponsors more than 2,000 surgeries provided by Crystal Eye Clinic for patients living in extreme poverty. Dr. Clarke and his team provide eye care to more than 22,000 patients each year who are living in extreme poverty.
