Day Three: A Return to Hoanh Bo and Cam Pha

Day Three: A Return to Hoanh Bo and Cam Pha
After two days of training at the Quang Ninh Center for Reproductive Health, the CureCervicalCancer team split up to revisit, resupply, and recertify our clinic partners at the existing “See and Treat” centers in Hoanh Bo and Cam Pha. It is well-known, among our healthcare professionals, that there is an epidemic of cervical cancer in this region of Vietnam, where HPV runs rampant. The message has spread far and wide throughout these communities, and we were delighted to find women lining up to be screened long before our arrival. Despite the large volumes of women, the attitude inside the clinics was very calm and collected. Each clinic truly was a well-oiled machine! Indeed, our “See and Treat” professionals in Cam Pha were able to master their skills by screening nearly one hundred women of whom 23 were positive. Likewise, our nurses and clinicians at the Lenore Grossman Pridham clinic in Hoanh Bo screened a total of 125 women of whom 21 were found to positive for precancerous cervical lesions. Not only have these healthcare practitioners mastered the simple and elegant technique of visual inspection with acetic acid and cryotherapy, but they have also perfected the art of doctoring, offering excellent counseling to each women who screens positive and encouraging them to receive cryotherapy. Tomorrow, we look forward to continuing on to establish two additional “See and Treat” clinics in Uong Bi and Dong Trieu. Stay tuned!