If you have followed the field notes of CureCervicalCancer, you know that we strive to achieve long term impact in the communities which our clinic sites serve. The goal of our high-intensity, high-volume “See & Treat” trainings is not solely to train those select healthcare professionals who are in attendance, but rather to “Train the...
After three days of reading about the “See and Treat” training program in Ukerewe, I’m sure you’re curious about the women here on the island in gorgeous Lake Victoria. Why is the positivity rate for precancerous lesions much higher in this particular region, compared to those in other areas of the world? Who are these...
We entered the CureCervicalCancer clinic in Dong Trieu (the Jay and Fish Collie Clinic) to deafening sounds of “Hello” ringing all around the room. 50 local women who were waiting to be screened had learned this greeting to show us their gratitude for coming so far to meet them. The energy was infectious. My name...
Today we visited Fishmouth Hospital, located just outside the gargantuan metropolis of the Chong Qing region. Fun Fact: Fishmouth Hospital derives its name from its geographical surroundings. The two major rivers that define the perimeters of Chong Qing create the shape of a fish. Many of the healthcare professionals at the hospital had already been...
Day 2 in Tanzania took us to Buzuruga Medical Center, just outside of the bustling town of Mwanza. This medical center already has a successful mother/baby wellness clinic, but cervical cancer screening is a vital part of women’s healthcare that was lacking. We are thankful to our new partners from UC Irvine for recognizing the...
The CureCervicalCancer team arrived in Mwanza, Tanzania on Sunday with a warm greeting from our new partners of UC Irvine’s School of Medicine. We are thrilled to be working with an amazing group of medical students, who are dedicated to saving lives and establishing two new sustainable “See and Treat” clinics. Our senior intern coordinator,...
Today marked the end of an incredibly successful 1-week program in Kiambu County. Five days of screening culminated in an inspirational graduation ceremony during which Kiambu County’s Head of Reproductive Health, Dr. Wanyee, made a surprise appearance. A well-respected woman with great influence, she expressed her gratitude towards the CureCervicalCancer Team for donating all the equipment necessary to sustain the six clinics in...
Past the crowded round-a-bout just off the main road of Githurai Mwohoko, the team arrives at the blue painted gate of Lang’ata Githurai Health Center. For our last two days, we will be screening/treating women in and around this town. Despite the heavy rainfall last night that continued into the early morning hours, the CCC team...
Ubuntu is a word in Swahili that can be taken to mean: “the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity”. On no other day is that sentiment more essential for us to contemplate than today. I awoke this morning to the horrendous news of the Paris attacks and my heart is...
There is a saying that a journey is not measured by the number of miles travelled but instead by the number of friends made. Stepping off the plane after 29 hours of travel and onto Kenyan soil for the third time, I took a deep breath and drew in the familiar scent of diesel exhaust. I quickly navigated my way...
