Bollywood Beach Party for Perth

Long after the Commonwealth Games is a memory in India, a team of Australian professional health care volunteers will be gearing up for a different kind of Indian adventure - Equal Health's India 2011 Camp. As oart of the preparation, Equal will host a Bollywood Beach Party fundraiser planned on 12 November at Salt on the Beach Bar in North Fremantle.

Equal Health is a Perth-based not-for-profit organisation established in 1997 to provide free multi-disciplinary medical health care to people in need in developing countries. This is made possible thanks to a team of Australian health professional volunteers who donate their time, skills and resources to provide free health care to some of the world's most vulnerable people.

Equal Health works with partner agencies in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu to provide free dental, optical, medical and allied health care through a combination of facility-based and outreach programs in rural villages.

While most of us take a doctor, optometrist or dentist visit for granted, these appointments are considered 'gold' by those living in remote India who would generally not have access to such services. Founder, Paul Clarke, says that these appointments make a lasting difference to people's lives.

"People travel for hours to have access to these everyday health services that we take for granted. It's amazing the difference a pair of glasses, a tooth extraction, a physio appointment or health check-up can make. I'll never forget the time when a man hadn't seen properly for ten years, and couldn't wipe the smile off his face with his new pair of glasses on.

"The beaming smiles stay with you. Many volunteers come up to me at the end of the camps and say, 'That's the best thing I've ever done in my life!'"

Over 8,700 appointments are provided on the annual two week camps, however, the need still far outweighs the capacity. Large crowds attend Equal Health's make shift clinics in remote villages - in community halls or even under the shade of a tree - and many people are unable to be treated.

Much needed funds are required to further Equal Health's valuable work well into the future. Equal Health is seeking corporate sponsors to invest in the cause, funding essential equipment and resources so they can help more people.