Microscope Increases Clinic Capacity

On a recent trip to Uganda, Children’s AIDS Fund International (CAFI) President Anita Smith (left) presented a Bausch & Lomb medical microscope to the Family Hope Centre Kampala staff.     The equipment was donated by CAFI board member Russell Smith, president of Organization Communications Incorporated (OCI), headquartered in Northern Virginia.

Mr. Russell Smith is no stranger to the CAF Uganda program.   Over several years he has taught professional grant writing seminars to more than 100 public and private sector workers, has contributed to the well-being of individual families and a local orphan school, as well as starting the Vanessa Smith Scholarship program that pays school fees for more than 30 children that are clients of the Family Hope Center Kampala.

Some sites have limited laboratory capacity and this microscope will be an important addition used to better serve the client population.

Clinic staff receiving the contribution (left to right) Job Amuriat Family Hope Center Manager; Willy Kayondo, Lab Technologist; Agnes Adyamo, Head Lab Technologist; and Shepherd Smith CAF Uganda Board Member.  Center staff commented on how much it means to them that Russell Smith continues to support so many aspects of their work.

Family Hope Centre Kampala has been a center of excellence in prevention, treatment and care under the US Government’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).   It is one of eight treatment sites managed by CAF Uganda’s New Hope Project which consists of a consortium of seven local organizations implementing the project which provides services to more than 27,000 adults and children.

Head Lab technologist Agnes Adyamo expressed deep gratitude to Russell Smith and OCI for the gift, stating that some sites have limited laboratory capacity and this microscope will be well used to more effectively serve the client population.