Healthy Women, Healthy families

Dear supporter,

Diakonia Agapes express its thanks for your support to our project that made possible to offer medical service for rural women of Tapi administrative unit of Kuçova during March - May 2018.

Organization of two workshops with 35 Health Outreach Activists (female who act as community mobilizers) focused on cervical cancer and the importance of PAP test; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; the importance of periodical check ups as well as how to improve the relation with primary health care workers. The trained women shared the information with other women in their respective areas. The women expressed that it was the first time for them to engage in such action, to receive information for the above issues, to share their challenges for the regular screening, and they got the message: ”It is better to prevent than to treat”.

During the 5 gynaecological examinations of the medical team (a gynaecologist and a lab technician) in the area there were in total 117 women screened for Sexually Transmitted Diseases through the smear test and 35 PAP Test were done for the women at the high risks. The tests showed that 85 % of the women screened had a vaginal infection of different stages. Also 8 women out of 35 who conducted the PAP Test were in the early stages of cervical cancer. 3 of them already did other examinations in the specialised hospital.

The women expressed their appreciation for visits offered in the place where they live because they do not have a specialised doctor and they are not able to travel to cities where are specialised hospital due to the financial difficulties.

300-health notebook for the women were published and distributed during the health awareness sessions with the women.

Human story - Patient with initials E.G 46 years old lives in Kuçova and she has conducted a PAP Test ten years ago. The doctor told her that other examinations were needed to evaluate her situation. Due to financial difficulties she did not visit a specialized doctor. She was very happy when she learned that a gynaecological team would visit her village. She attended the health awareness sessions and she did the Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) testing and PAP-test. Once again she resulted with problems that have advanced and she needs further examination. Hopefully she will be able to do that.

We ask you to continue to support our effort to reach the remaining 650 women and to contribute in the improvement of women’s health and have healthy families.