Healthy Women, Healthy families

Dear Friends,

The project: Healthy Women, healthy families continue to provide health examinations for women who live in Kuçova Municipality. The project targets women and its focus is their reproductive health, to have good personal health and healthy families.

During August - November 2022, Diakonia Agapes was not able to raise the targeted funds for the project even though has participated in two campaigns organized by the GlobalGiving platform (Little by little 4-8 April 2022 and Little by Little 12-15 September 2022). There were only 8 donations offered in these campaigns. Still Diakonia Agapes efforts continue to knock to different donors, organizations, individuals who will support us in this important initiative.

Diakonia Agapes has continued to communicate will health care providers in Kuçova and they report that women are hesitant for health examination. The only way to convince women for the periodical health visits and PAP test is to bring the doctor in the area. So based in this evidence Diakonia Agapes will continue to fundraise in order to support these vulnerable women and families to have good health.

During January – November 2022 there were organized two workshops (three days each) (March 10, March 17, March 24, July 08, July 12 and July 14, 2022) that were attended by 60 The women raised their knowledge on cervical cancer, the importance of the PAP test, Sexually Transmitted Infections and its treatment. Health note books were delivered to the participants in order to learn more related the topics addressed.

From January - November 2022, for 103 women (54 women Tapi village, 16 women Magjatë village, 19 women Perondi village, 14 Kozare village) were provided health examination and 78 of them did the PAP test.

• Total data for the period January-November 2022 (DOCX)

The project: Healthy Women, healthy families has continued its implementation during July 2022, in Kozare, Magjatë and Tapi villages of Kuçova Municipality.

The main objectives of the project are focused on women's reproductive health, to have good personal health and healthy families.

During July 2022 there were organized three workshops (July 08, July 12 and July 14) that were attended by 44 women in the three villages of Kucova (Kozare, Magjatë and Tapi).

The women had the possibility to increase their knowledge related to cervical cancer, its treatment, the importance of the PAP test and Sexually Transmitted Infections. Health notebooks published through the financial support of GlobalGiving were delivered to each woman.

In the end of workshop, participants filled in an evaluation form. They emphasized the fact that having the doctor in the village for a visit it is a great support for them. The Medical Team (the doctor and the laboratory technician) conducted 44 visits in three health centers of the villages. 33 Pap-tests were conducted for women who have a high-risk factor. Pap tests were read at a specialized health center in Tirana. Based on the health visits to the women were given the necessary treatment.

 The data shows that the women in rural areas face a lot of problems related to the reproductive health. Evidence of the presence of leukocytes and bacteria in the women visited indicates the presence of infections, which shows a low level of awareness of women for reproductive health, both in terms of personal hygiene and lack of regular check-ups with a specialized doctor. The gynecologist has provided special attention for the importance of the gynecological visits. Further advice was provided related the personal hygiene as well as protection from diseases that are classified as Sexually Transmitted and or not.  The analyses showed a serious condition, where the degree of purity at level IV, indicates total neglect of personal health and in particular of reproductive health in patients found at this level of degree of purity. Cases with candidiasis continue to be a higher number because of the use of antibiotics or the use of traditional folk methods of maintaining hygiene. However, the presence of such a high number of women who have candidiasis indicates the failure to see a specialized doctor to assess the health situation and receive the necessary treatment. 

Human stories

Patient N after the PAP test was diagnosed with changes of metaplastic in the Colum. This patient was referred to a specialized obstetrics and gynecology clinic, where HPV typing was performed and resulted in 18^th subtype high risk. She will be followed-up with further treatments.

Two patients are diagnosed with polyps of the cervical canal and after the result of the Pap test they were referred to a specialized obstetrics and gynecology clinic to perform a polypectomy (removal of the polyp). These two cases prevail the risk and further complications related to women's health.

The number of women participating in gynecological visits was 44. Evaluating the previous period the number of women was smaller than before because of seasonal agriculture work, where the whole family participates in harvesting and other supporting work.

Feedback from women after the visits

“I feel very satisfied. The doctor take care of our health and we have the opportunity to do visits and PAP test in the village” says K a women in Tapi village.

“I have received a lot of information. I have neglected the visits even though I have problems with the menstrual cycle. I supposed it was normal but following the advices during the visit, I will conduct further analyses as per doctor recommendations”- says a 34 years old mother.  

 In the villages, some of the women are very poor and they wait for the doctor to return. Another woman 43 years old women has traveled to meet with the doctor and do another checkup.

• Annex_1_Project_report_HWHF_July_2022.docx (DOCX)