Donation to Hospital in Albania
The clinical pathology laboratory at Durres Hospital in Albania serves a large population within the capitol city of Durres, and they do this without adequate equipment. That has all changed with the donation of a multi-headed teaching microscope by iFuse (Inspire Future Scientific Exploration), which aims to open children’s eyes to the possibility of careers in science, medicine and technology by providing access to scientific equipment they might otherwise not get to use
Susan Oupadia, MD and Peace Corps Health Sector Volunteer, recalls “Who could know that in November we would find an amazing stranger on the internet willing to take a chance on our project? Mr. John Hubacz, from JH Technologies in Fremont, California was so generous as to build and donate a 3-headed microscope to Peace Corps Albania.” Oupadia continues “one of my Albanian colleagues said when she saw the instrument, “this is something we could only see in our dreams”.”
Developing countries are strapped for funding to purchase instruments needed to diagnose and prevent disease. At the Durres hospital, the lack of a teaching microscope inhibits the development of new clinical pathologists, slowing the diagnosis process and leading to possible misdiagnosis. JH Technologies CEO John Hubacz says, “providing this instrument will help develop those new pathologists needed to support a growing healthcare need in Albania.” Hubacz suggests, “The Peace Corps is a tremendous institution with a long history of helping human-kind world-wide. We see this as an opportunity to support medical development in nations that suffer from poor medical infrastructure and helping them to prevent disease.”