HPV Cervical Cancer Screen and Treat Charity Mission in Heilongjiang
On August 18, the charity medical mission in Heilongjiang led by Beijing Han Hong Charity Foundation and supported by the United Foundation for China’s Health (UFCH) successfully concluded. During the 14-day charity medical trip, United Family Healthcare (UFH) medical experts participated in providing free clinics in 10 counties and cities in Heilongjiang and provided free HPV/ cervical cancer screening for 1,559 women.
In Xun Ke County, three women stood quietly beside the screening lines. They were cleaning workers who had just finished cleaning the venue which held the screening event. We could see in their eyes that they were eager to get screened but they were worried to ask since they did not have a reserved spot. The UFCH team noticed them and arranged for these three women to attend the screening with other women.
For UFCH, every charity screening mission is not only providing an opportunity for local women to care about their health, but we also really hope to deliver the knowledge and medical skills of cervical cancer prevention to local women and medical staff through education and medical training.
UFCH Board Member and medical advisor, a distinguished professor at the Center for Global Health, College of Group Medicine and Public Health, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences – Dr. Qiao Youlin, invited medical experts from Peking Union Medical College Hospital to organize a 7-day professional HPV examination training course online for medical staff (including local medical staff) who provide screen and treat care to women on the mission. More than 50 medical staff participated and completed the course. Local medical staff have benefited from being taught the relevant medical theory and having the chance to improve their skills. These local doctors expressed their gratitude for bringing such high-quality medical training to the remote area.
During this mission, 1,559 women were screened, with 349 positive for HPV. Of all the positive samples, 115 women returned to the hospital for a colposcopy exam, of these, 87 women received pathological biopsies for further laboratory testing and medical consultations. UFCH will work with the local hospitals to bring the remaining women in for follow up testing and care.