Residents in and around Cacak, Serbia will soon be able to benefit from state-of-the-art PCR testing for infectious diseases thanks to an international partnership between The Rotary Club of Austin, the Rotary Club of Cacak, District 5870, and many others.
Ann Marie Ellis and I, both members of the Rotary Club of Austin, visited the lab in September 2022 as part of a goodwill trip to see progress from a large global grant that began in 2020. Falling under Rotary’s “disease prevention and treatment” area of focus, the grant provided nearly $150,000 for state-of-the-art PCR testing equipment, which Cacak did not already have. Serbia was severely ravaged by COVID-19, and during the peak of the pandemic, any testing had to be sent two hours away to Belgrade. This reduced the effectiveness of efforts to stop COVID.
The new equipment not only can test for COVID, but it can also test for a wide array of infectious diseases that previously could only be tested for in Belgrade. This is a significant step forward for Cacak in improving the health of its residents. We were invited to see progress of the lab and meet members of the Rotary Club of Cacak, district leaders, as well as government and public health officials. The lab will be housed in a new building -- still under construction -- but local officials expect the facility to open within 30 days.
This grant was unique, because it not only involved local Rotary clubs and Rotary international, but also USAID. As an international partner on this grant, RCA provided not only funding but also logistical support and advice so that the grant would be approved by Rotary International. Ann Marie worked closely with Vesna Baur, member of the Rotary Club of Cacak and Ann Marie’s counterpart on the project. The Rotary Club of Cacak rolled out the red carpet to welcome us. Not only did we meet leaders and staff members of the lab, but we also met a class of 8th graders, the mayor of Cacak, district leaders, and the Prince and Princess of Serbia!
“A very special memory is meeting the Laboratory staff--all waiting for us and dressed in white--welcoming us to the impressive lab and our having a tour to see the new lab space and equipment,” Ann Marie said. “Everyone was so appreciative of the work we did, but it is all to Vesna’s credit. She did a wonderful job in writing the grant and following up to ensure that the work proposed by the grant is being achieved. Having the media present for our visit, the inauguration of the Lab, and for the work of the Rotary Club of Cacak will give the work of the Lab and the Club a great deal of visibility in the region.” We would like to thank District 5870, E-Club of District 5870, Austin-North by Northwest, Austin University Area, and Austin Westlake, for supporting this global grant.