The sustainable model that CureCervicalCancer is based on is the most efficient and effective way to bring needed screening and treatment for pre cervical cancer to women who would otherwise never have such life saving care. The process we go through to locate and set up clinics is also inspiringly carried out.
I have been a volunteer with CCC on three trips over the last 7 months. My role has been to be the CCC “roadie” and do anything and everything needed from moving supplies to setting up and supplying work stations. I participate on trips but normally don’t see the enormous effort and huge steps that go into planning them.
On the last trip to Kenya CCC not only completed the clinic we planned to set up, but we did many site visits to other potential clinic areas. It was amazing to see part of the process of finding allies to help us on our mission. The very first site we visited was the Langata women’s clinic in Nairobi.
Today I, along with the team, returned to the Langata clinic to carry out the dream inspired by that first experience. We created a permanent see and treat clinic for the women of the clinic which includes the Kibera slum, the biggest urban slum in Africa with about 1 million people. Working with the clinic women filled my heart and soul in a way it has not been touched by any other volunteer experience before. The nurses I worked with would ask the women patients about their kids, thoroughly explain the screening and treatment procedures and counsel them with care and compassion.
All in all I think the International Medical Corps clinic at Langata is a perfect example of CCC’s mission and I am proud and thankful to have been a part of it from the first site visit to the opening day of bringing care to the women there. Look for more of my blogs as I am joining CCC in the northern part of Viet Nam in late May 2014!
By Cullen Hallinan