Healthy Women, Healthy families

The project: Healthy women, healthy families restarted again in July 2021 after one year gap caused by the COVID 19.  Itwas implemented in three villages Perondi, Tapi and Kozare of Kuçova Municipality. The project aims to increase women’s awareness related to the personal health contributing to having healthy families. This was achieved by:

• Organizing health awareness sessions with the women where were discussed the importance of the gynecological checkups.
• Conduction of the gynecological visits in the health center and for the women who were at risk was done the PAP-test. 

Also, women received information related to COVID 19, consequences it has for the pregnant women and how to follow all the necessary regulations developed by the Albanian Government.

The protocol developed by the Albania government for the COVID 19 were followed during the activities. 

There were in total 58 gynecological examinations conducted and 23 PAP-Tests. The health visits were done at the health centers of the respective villages and were offered The examinations were conducted by a team of two persons (a gynecologist and a lab). The visits took place on the following dates:

-       Perondi village          21 July 2021             16 women visited and 7 of them did the PAP-test

-       Tapi village                26 July 2021             22 women visited and 8 of them did the PAP-Test

-       Kozare village           31 July 2021             20 women visited and 8 of them did the PAP test

From the Smear test resulted that:

Most of the women have high level of infection due to the low personal hygiene as well as they neglect to go for periodical check up to the specialized doctor in the area. 

There is high number of women who have candida, and this was related to the use of the antibiotics as well as from their profession.

Related to the PAP- Test very few of them have done it. Even though they were aware for the fact that they need to do it periodically (once in two year) they did not follow it. 

 A health notebook was delivered to all the women. 

We could state that one of the results achieved during this visit was the participation of the women in the awareness session and 25 out 58 were meeting the gynecologist for the first. During the discussion, it was found out that women find difficult to discuss for their sexual or health issues. The tradition, mentality are barriers that women find difficult to overcome. Based on the tradition they keep the issue for themselves or in the best scenario share it with their mothers or mothers-in low. Due to the low economic situation, they are not able to go the specialized doctor in the area. 

 Success story

Marsela and her husband Ermal live in Kozara village. For three years they were trying to  conceive a baby. When Marsela came for the gynecological examination, it was found out that she had a severe gynecological infection. She did the treatment and was sent to Tirana for specialized treatment. Completing the treatment, the couple was able to have the child.

Having shared with you the achievement for the period, Diakonia Agapes believes that it is important to be near with women and to provide a valuable service for them. Being present in the area has increased the number of the women who seek medical advice.

Dear friends consider to further support our work towards the project: Healthy women, Healthy families.