Dedication Of The Mela Kent Clinic: Kenya

Today was the official dedication of the Cure Cervical Cancer: Mela Kent Clinic within the AMS Engos Clinic, donated by her grandsons. It was a wonderful occasion where many grateful Maasai women were screened and treated for precancerous cervical lesions. With full confidence that Dr. Mike and nurses Francis and Beryl were fully trained in the “See and Treat” procedure, CCC felt assured that these talented medical personnel could continue the screening and cryotherapy treatment on their own. We were delighted to be able to donate the Cure Cervical Cancer: Mela Kent Clinic to them! The clinic consists of dozens of supplies, as well as the cryotherapy machine and CO2 tanks to make this a permanent, sustainable, ongoing cervical cancer “Screen and Treat” clinic. CCC has learned a great deal from working in the Mara with the Maasai women (and also women from several other tribes), and has discovered some distinct patterns. First, the rates of women who tested positive with the Vinegar Test were very high. They ranged from 33% to 50% on different clinic days, as compared to the global average rate of 10-15%. Thus, CCC needed to perform many more cryotherapy procedures to remove the pre-malignant cervical lesions. Second, rates seemed to vary among different tribes, with the Kisii women revealing higher rates than the Maasai women. Finally, CCC found high rates among younger women in their late teens and early twenties. Possible explanations for these patterns include greater sexual activity among some tribes compared to others and among the younger generation. CCC is grateful to have had this unique and wonderful experience. We thank our partners, Africa Mission Services, and especially Francis and Andy Aho, who provided the beautiful facility, attentive care, and great attention to detail. CCC is also grateful to the many, many nurses who accompanied the team leader, Doris Pesina RN, for their dedication and devotion to making this project possible.