Among the supplies in the 20-foot container were five second-hand, hospital-grade laboratory microscopes—purchased at a bargain price from Rutgers University. One has already found a meaningful home.
We placed it in the hands of Santigi Kamara, a wheelchair-bound patient recovering from spinal surgery who now lives at our base. Despite his challenges, Santigi is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory at the College of Medicine, University of Sierra Leone, and is just one year away from graduation. A dedicated and determined student, he now has a vital tool that will help him complete his training and, soon, begin a career in a hospital or medical laboratory.
The remaining microscopes will allow us to establish a small laboratory at our base—bringing critical diagnostic capabilities to those who need them most. Patients come to our clinic suffering from illnesses such as typhoid fever, malaria, hepatitis, HIV, and more. With these tools, we can begin to offer faster, more accurate diagnoses—and, with that, the hope of timely treatment and healing.
Santigi Kamara, who turned 30 on February 28, is benefiting from our gift of a microscope, as he continues his pursuit of a Medical Laboratory degree.