Cervical Cancer Prevention in Haiti

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS MISSION:

WHH is dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare for women and children in the most underserved areas of the world. WHH teams have traveled to Nepal, Chad and Haiti to deliver health services. WHH volunteer medical teams have also provided free health screenings to homeless in Lake County, CA.

This is WHH’s third mission to Haiti. The dates scheduled for this trip: January 3-13, 2015, not including travel.

This mission was specifically targeted to provide cervical cancer screening, prevention and treatment, with  additional intent to train Haitian physicians and medical staff.

THE TEAM MEMBERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

This WHH team was made of 6 volunteers:  

• Paula Dhanda, MD, team leader, obstetrician and gynecologist
• H. Vernetta Johnson, MD, anesthesiologist
• Scott Welker, MD,  general surgeon
• Christine Hansom, RN and diabetic trainer
• Carol Stahr, LVN and nurse trainer for the cervical cancer prevention
• Jacklin Sime, Haitian medical student, translator

MAIN GOALS:

1. Train Haitian physicians in cervical cancer screening and prevention
2. Provide surgical, anesthesia, emergency and gynecologic services
3. Assess the laparoscopic program for needs and future mentoring
4. Teach local medical staff including nurses and surgical techs

MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE MISSION:

The WHH team took 10 boxes (approximately 500 pounds) of medical and surgical supplies including medicine, sutures and surgical instruments with them.  Thanks to the generosity of the following donors for medical and surgical supplies:

• Direct Relief
• MedShare
• St. Helena Clearlake Hospital, Clearlake, CA
• Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Lakeport, CA

TRAVEL INFORMATION:

Most of the medical team members left on January 1, 2015, and congregated in San Francisco for a flight to Miami.  There, we were met by the Project Medishare volunteer coordinator and boarded a flight to Port-au-Prince.  The WHH team returned to Lake County via flights from Port-au-Prince to Miami, then to San Francisco where most team members completed the trip using their own ground transportation.

WHH ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Trained 2 Haitian OB/GYNs (Dr. Joseph Auguste and Dr. Valery Caleb Suprien) in cervical cancer screening, colposcopy and LEEP conization of the cervix.
• Screened 40 women for cervical cancer using the “see and treat” method
• Performed 2 LEEP conization of the cervix for pre-malignant lesions and identified 1 advanced cervical cancer patient who was referred for radiation
• Provided emergency surgical, obstetrical and anesthesia services
• Evaluated pregnant patients and breast cancer patients
• Assisted the local anesthesia staff in multiple operations
• Trained 2 oncology nurses and equipped them with basic supplies

MISSION SPECIAL THANKS TO:

• All WHH team member volunteers who generously donated their time and paid for their own travel.
• Project Medishare medical staff including Dr. Vincent DeGennaro Jr and Dr. Daniel Okamoto for their leadership in coordinating the training program for the cervical cancer screening.
• Our local volunteers who work all year long in gathering and sorting our in-kind donations in preparation for our mission.  Special thanks to Perla Lovejoy, RN, who is our materials manager, and to Julie Crane, RN, who assists her.
• Varsha Bhongade of Craig’s Design, Inc for her generous donation of T-shirts for the entire team.
• WHH board members: Shannon Gunier, Lou Lesko, Nell Shaul, Anthy O’Brien and Margaret Walker for the countless hours they contribute by fundraising, organizing and planning this mission.

Links:

• Worldwide Healing Hands website