Areas of Focus: Disease prevention and treatment, Water, sanitation and hygiene, Maternal and child health
Activity Type:
Health: Disease
Summary: I am raising funds to purchase microscopes to teach technologists in Africa how to diagnose and phenotype malaria and other fevers.
An estimated 350 million worldwide are currently infected by malaria, 80 %of the children according to the World Health Organization. In sub Saharan Africa, every year, an estimated 60,000 children under 5, die of malaria (UNICEF). I manage malaria microscopy education.
Microscopy remains the reference method for the diagnosis and phenotyping of malaria. Rapid Diagnostic tests are useful for screening populations, however, they lack sensitivity and the ability to identify the specific species of plasmodium. Phenotyping is critical. 33% of Africa have a genetic glucose disorder. If misdiagnosed and provided the wrong prescription, blood clots form leading to strokes, heart attacks, and deaths. PCR technology can diagnose and phenotype. However, the instrumentation is very costly and the cost per test hovers around $50 USD. The average family income in sub Saharan Africa is less than $4,000 annually.
My company, the Global Health Institute provides me with a budget of $160,000 USD to pay universities in target countries to conduct accredited microscopy training to World Health Organization standards. That budget covers the cost of transporting, feeding and housing student technologists. The budget also pays for the professors and licensed technologists to teach clinical microscopy to diagnose malaria and other fevers.
I depend upon small grants from Rotary clubs to buy desperately needed microscopes to be placed in clinical laboratories to be used to conduct blood examinations. Last year, we conducted a very successful pilot in Ghana at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research. We trained 30 technologists hands on. All 30 are now placed in labs conducting microscopic blood exams. The Rotary Club of Weija West hosted. The first lady of Ghana, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo praised Rotary for their assistance. The Rotary Club 4 of Seattle and Malaria Partners International provided funding.
This year, the plan is to conduct training in Burkina Faso and Botswana. We are also planning training in Port Hartcourt Nigeria and in Kenya. We are also conducting additional training in Ghana. I an asking for your assistance. The microscopes cost $250 USD each. I hope to raise enough funds for 160.
My Rotary Club is the Phoenix 100. The International Outreach Committee has granted me $2,000 for donation to malaria microscopy education. When I attended grant training back on March 19, I was told the district could possibly match this donation three to one. I hope and pray this proposal is accepted. My budget for the purchase of microscopes is $7,000 for each location. I need you help with just one!
Completed
This project is "Completed". This means the project has been implemented and the report was accepted by the district leadership. The project will stay listed on this website as a testimony of the achievements of the project partners.
Jim, this looks like a Global Grant. You have it entered as a District Grant.
20-May-22
by Rebecca Wilks
This application requires 1. revision of the budget so that it balances and 2. Submission of the MOU in order to be complete by the May 31 deadline.
21-May-22
by Jim Mulry
System Entry: Pledge of $36,000 by Jim Mulry of the Rotary Club of Phoenix, District 5495.
21-May-22
by Jim Mulry
System Entry: Project is now "Fully Pledged".
27-May-22
by Rebecca Wilks
A final reminder; the signed MOU must be submitted prior to the May 31 application deadline. Thanks.
31-May-22
by Rebecca Wilks
System Entry: Project sent for club signatures.
31-May-22
System Entry
System Entry: Project signed by Rebecca Wilks.
31-May-22
System Entry
System Entry: Project signed by Jay Murphy.
31-May-22
by Jim Mulry
System Entry: Project signed by Jim Mulry.
15-Jul-22
by Rebecca Wilks
The Rotary Foundation has informed us that Burkina Faso is on their travel ban list. They insist that no TRF funds be spent on travel there (none of your grant funds). Will you please acknowledge that you understand this in a history log message here on the website? Thanks.
18-Jul-22
by Rebecca Wilks
We've received your email stating that there will be no project work in, including travel to, Burkina Faso. Your email also implied that money has already been spent. TRF does not allow you to be reimbursed for expenditures made before they approve the grant, which has not happened yet. We'll need clarification before forwarding the funds to your club. Thanks.
4-Aug-22
by Rebecca Wilks
Congratulations! The Rotary Foundation has approved our block grant. Please be sure your bank information is up-to-date so there is no delay in sending the funds by electronic transfer. This information should be addressed to our District Treasurer, Lucinda General at treasurer@rotary5495.org
Please also note that there is an issue with this grant that must be cleared up before funds will be sent to your club.
8-Oct-22
by Rebecca Wilks
We're still waiting for an answer to the question here in the History Log section from July 18. We can't send the funds until this issue is resolved. Thanks.
9-Oct-22
by Jay Murphy
As I discussed a 2-3 months ago with Rebecca, we realize that any expenditures that took place prior to the August 4th approval are not eligible for reimbursement. Jim Mulry knows that he will need to provide receipts showing expenditures after that date in order to obtain reimbursement. I will ask Jim to also coordinate with Lucinda regarding the electronic funds transfer.
14-Oct-22
by Rebecca Wilks
System Entry: Project approved by the District Approval Committee.
14-Oct-22
by Rebecca Wilks
System Entry: Check for DDF payment issued by Foundation Treasurer.
16-Apr-23
by Rebecca Wilks
A friendly reminder: The report for this grant either has not been submitted or is incomplete. The deadline for reporting is April 30. Late reports can jeopardize your club’s future grants and delay receipt of next year’s funding for all clubs in the district. The report form can be found here:
The completed, SIGNED form, along with all project RECEIPTS, must be uploaded in PDF format to the project website in order to close the project.
Thanks.
20-May-23
by Jay Murphy
Signed Final Report uploaded to Project Documents.
21-May-23
by Rebecca Wilks
Thank you for your report. In order to close this project, receipts must also be uploaded in PDF format.
23-May-23
by Rebecca Wilks
Thank you for your project report. In order to complete it, please upload receipts (invoices and fedex labels will not satisfy TRF requirements) totaling the amount of the project budget.
15-Jun-23
by Rebecca Wilks
your grant report remains incomplete.
20-Jun-23
by Jim Mulry
Today, I posted a picture of the current microscopy class learning the microscopes. I tried uploading receipts of payment for microscopes. The software is not cooperating.
22-Jun-23
by Rebecca Wilks
Feel free to send the PDF receipts to me; I will post them. If they're not PDFs, that's the reason for your trouble - they must be. rebecca@skylineimges.net
7-Jul-23
by Rebecca Wilks
Received more invoices and packing lists from Jim Mulry by email. I'll reiterate here what I sent in the reply email - we must have receipts for all spending on the grant. Thanks.
8-Aug-23
by Rebecca Wilks
The following email was sent to Jim Mulry today, in response to his request that I clarify what is missing:
Jim:
Since there have been no new documents uploaded on the website since June 20, what I need has not changed since the last email. I paste it here for your convenience.
I've asked Tom McLarty to step in on this situation, since we don't seem to be getting anywhere.
1. The amount of the grant was $40,000 and the letter acknowledges receipt of $12,265
2, The letter is dated 12/7/23, which I presume is July, and the grant term was through April 30, 2023.
3. The document acknowledges receipt of funds from PAVON. I'm not sure what that is, but we need to show the money came from your club or its foundation.
7-Sep-23
by Rebecca Wilks
System Entry: Project has been implemented and final report uploaded.
7-Sep-23
by Rebecca Wilks
System Entry: Final report approved by the District Approval Committee.
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