The North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) is expanding its Great Pap Smear initiative with a Mobile Outreach Program.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health said it expected the 4th installment of its Major Pap Test Initiative in December 2022.
The ministry said this installment was notable as the NCRHA also launched its Mobile Outreach Programme, an expanded arm of the Pap Test Initiative.
The Ministry said that the expansion of the Pap Smear Initiative, with the launch of the Mobile Outreach Program will be of great importance in the direction that emphasizes preventive care, more specifically in relation to women’s health.
General Manager for Primary Health Care Services Dr Abdul Hamid said this Mobile Unit was conceived to make screening more accessible to women in rural communities.
“While we are very pleased with the tremendous increase in Pap smear screenings, we also realized that a step further needs to be taken to provide the necessary medical intervention to those living in remote areas.
“We aim to combat apathy towards preventive health care and as such are committed to creating ways and means through which quality care is readily available and accessible to all.”
The General Manager of Primary Health Care, Dr Abdul Hamid, said that they had noticed that the number of examinations carried out per year fell far below the expected figures.
He said this was a major concern for healthcare professionals as annual screenings are encouraged to ensure early detection of potential malignancies.
Following these findings, an aggressive health promotion program was created to encourage women to get Pap smears.
NCRHA CEO Davlin Thomas said:
“Culturally, individuals are usually more inclined to seek health care when they experience abnormalities and dysfunction. Our communication initiatives aim to break the taboo, bridge the gap and encourage members of the public to do their routine checks.
“Early detection can significantly reduce the occurrence of more critical issues later – whether it’s our women, men or children, we want them to know that we’re here and we care. We’re determined to continue to be a force for health.” well, a platform for healing and wellness… a channel for a better quality of life.”
Thomas: 400 percent increase in pap smear screenings
Thomas said hundreds of women have visited the Mt Hope facilities for early screening.
“By 2022, we’ve seen a 400 percent increase in Pap smear screenings between 2016 and 2022… that’s 400 percent more women accessing life-saving screenings. The implications are tremendous.”
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh also expressed his strong support for the introduction of the mobile service, adding that he was encouraged by the initiative as it was in line with the current efforts of the Ministry of Health to promote preventive care and empower citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to take proactive roles in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Ms. Sharon Rowley, wife of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and representative of the Executive Body: Spouses of the CARICOM Leaders Action Network (SCLAN), was also at the launch to lend support to the initiative.
Ms Rowley said this is just one of the women’s issues SCLAN will partner to engage with across the Caribbean.
The ministry said the program began in 2018 and serves all women in the reproductive age demographic and was designed with working women in mind, especially those who may have difficulty accessing such health care services during the normal work week. from Monday to Friday.
The ministry said that during this installment, organized during the festive season of Christmas, 263 women receive the pap test free of charge, as well as other services such as dentistry, ophthalmology, counseling and medical consultations at the Women’s Center Shpresa e Mali.
NCRHA CEO Davlin Thomas said that NCRHA will continue to engage in innovative initiatives aimed at improving the quality of healthcare services in the region.
“Our Pap Smear initiative is part of our strategic aim to contain the high incidence of NCDs in our society through our outreach and opportunity creation programs where we can identify any potential risk from an early onset and then provide the necessary intervention to empower individuals to manage their health effectively.
“Programs like this, our Men’s Wellness Clinic, our Kids’ Wellness Clinic, Walk-The-Talk, among others have proven to be very successful. The December Pap Smear Initiative is a testament to that.”
Chairman of the NCRHA Board of Directors Steve De Las also appreciated the initiative and congratulated the NCRHA for the bold initiative and for their continued commitment to improving the lives of citizens.
The ministry said that apart from the clinical services, attendees were also treated to entertainment from some special guests to ensure that the stay was engaging and enjoyable.
Some of the performers included: Amritam Shakti Dance Company, North-West Laventille Cultural Movement, Alicia Jagessar and Los Alumnos de San Juan, Marion Williams and Nishard M.
