Combat Cervical Cancer in Tanzania
Donation protected
The Problem
In developed countries women rarely die from cervical cancer because very early stages of the disease are identified and treated effectively. This is not the case in most developing countries (90% of Africa 80% Central America, and others) where the diagnosis is not made until it is too late to even treat. Women in these countries rarely get adequate health screening and intervention so they often do not have a choice. Currently fewer than 10% of the population is being screened for early cervical disease. This is shameful when we in developed countries can help change this situation.
Our Solution
Stepping Together, Inc (a 501 C3 non-profit, tax ID #94-3103632) works with partner organizations in the identified country to provide screening, treatment and training for cervical cancer. Our goal is to develop a sustainable program to help reduce the deaths from cervical cancer, a preventable disease. More than 80% of the cervical cancers are now diagnosed in developing countries. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of female cancer deaths in sub-Sahara Africa.
In January 2015 we traveled to the Lindi District in the southeastern area of Tanzania. In this underserved district where many have not seen a physician in more than 10 years, we initiated a successful Cervical Cancer Screening Program (CCSP) in Lindi, Tanzania in January 2015. During this mission we screened over 200 women, trained 5 nurses, and educated women from twenty different villages and health dispensaries. We were able to identify several women with high-grade dysplasia and refer them to the Regional Medical Center for treatment.
The reality is that transportation to the Regional Medical Center is a huge obstacle for many of the woman. As a result some of these women may not receive the life saving treatment because they didn't have the funds to travel to the regional facility. Being able to provide the treatment to these women in their locale with increase the percentage of women getting the appropriate care. Our goal is to bring the medical equipment directly to the district so we can treat women diagnosed with dysplasia during the working mission.
When we return in August 2015 we will continue the work started in January 2015 and are planning to treat women diagnosed with cervical dysplasia (the precursor of cervical cancer). In order to do this we will need to purchase medical equipment to provide treatment for these patients. Most treatment can be performed using either cryosurgery or a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). A cryosurgery machine with equipment costs $3,500 and a LEEP machine with equipment costs $8,000.
We return every six months to train other health advocates, screen and treat more patients. It is imperative that we obtain the necessary equipment to provide the appropriate treatment to women in this region. We need your help to raise funds to purchase this equipment for our August 2015 and subsequent mission in 2016 and beyond.
The Impact
Our previous funding efforts have not been as successful as we hoped. But you can help us screen 500 women on this upcoming trip, train 25 health providers on a simple and effective technique so they can continue to screen women in their communities.
It will cost $35.00 to screen each woman who attends our clinic, this includes transporting patients from rural areas to the clinic site, performing a PAP screening test, getting the specimen analyzed and providing appropriate follow up. We will also educate each women about cervical cancer and the precursor, cervical dysplasia. Our goal is to serve a community of over 22,500 people, impacting woman in over 5,000 households. We want to identify early women with early disease that can be effectively treated thus avoiding the development of cervical cancer.
In developed countries women rarely die from cervical cancer because very early stages of the disease are identified and treated effectively. This is not the case in most developing countries (90% of Africa 80% Central America, and others) where the diagnosis is not made until it is too late to even treat. Women in these countries rarely get adequate health screening and intervention so they often do not have a choice. Currently fewer than 10% of the population is being screened for early cervical disease. This is shameful when we in developed countries can help change this situation.
Our Solution
Stepping Together, Inc (a 501 C3 non-profit, tax ID #94-3103632) works with partner organizations in the identified country to provide screening, treatment and training for cervical cancer. Our goal is to develop a sustainable program to help reduce the deaths from cervical cancer, a preventable disease. More than 80% of the cervical cancers are now diagnosed in developing countries. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of female cancer deaths in sub-Sahara Africa.
In January 2015 we traveled to the Lindi District in the southeastern area of Tanzania. In this underserved district where many have not seen a physician in more than 10 years, we initiated a successful Cervical Cancer Screening Program (CCSP) in Lindi, Tanzania in January 2015. During this mission we screened over 200 women, trained 5 nurses, and educated women from twenty different villages and health dispensaries. We were able to identify several women with high-grade dysplasia and refer them to the Regional Medical Center for treatment.
The reality is that transportation to the Regional Medical Center is a huge obstacle for many of the woman. As a result some of these women may not receive the life saving treatment because they didn't have the funds to travel to the regional facility. Being able to provide the treatment to these women in their locale with increase the percentage of women getting the appropriate care. Our goal is to bring the medical equipment directly to the district so we can treat women diagnosed with dysplasia during the working mission.
When we return in August 2015 we will continue the work started in January 2015 and are planning to treat women diagnosed with cervical dysplasia (the precursor of cervical cancer). In order to do this we will need to purchase medical equipment to provide treatment for these patients. Most treatment can be performed using either cryosurgery or a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). A cryosurgery machine with equipment costs $3,500 and a LEEP machine with equipment costs $8,000.
We return every six months to train other health advocates, screen and treat more patients. It is imperative that we obtain the necessary equipment to provide the appropriate treatment to women in this region. We need your help to raise funds to purchase this equipment for our August 2015 and subsequent mission in 2016 and beyond.
The Impact
Our previous funding efforts have not been as successful as we hoped. But you can help us screen 500 women on this upcoming trip, train 25 health providers on a simple and effective technique so they can continue to screen women in their communities.
It will cost $35.00 to screen each woman who attends our clinic, this includes transporting patients from rural areas to the clinic site, performing a PAP screening test, getting the specimen analyzed and providing appropriate follow up. We will also educate each women about cervical cancer and the precursor, cervical dysplasia. Our goal is to serve a community of over 22,500 people, impacting woman in over 5,000 households. We want to identify early women with early disease that can be effectively treated thus avoiding the development of cervical cancer.
Organizer
Stepping To
Organizer
Oakland, CA
