Trinidad and Tobago: The North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA), earlier this week, organized the 4th installment of the Great Pap smear Initiative in December 2022. This installment was notable as NCRHA launched its Mobile Outreach Program, an arm developed by the Pap smear initiative.
Ms. Sharon Rowley, wife of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and representative of the Executive Body: Spouses of the CARICOM Leaders Action Network (SCLAN), was on hand for the launch and supported the initiative. Ms Rowley added that this is just one of the women’s issues that SCLAN will partner to engage with across the Caribbean.
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 as well as empowering citizens. of the country. to take proactive roles in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The program, which began in 2018, catered to all women within the childbearing age demographic and was designed with working women in mind, especially those who may have difficulty accessing such healthcare services during the week normal working hours from Monday to Friday. This installment, organized over the festive season of Christmas, saw two hundred and sixty three (263) women gifted papa tests as well as other services such as dental, ophthalmology, counseling and medical consultations at the Mt Hope Women’s Centre.
The General Manager of Primary Health Care, Dr Abdul Hamid, said they noticed that the number of examinations carried out per year fell well below the expected turnover figures. This was a major concern for healthcare professionals, as annual screenings are recommended to ensure early detection of potential malignancies. Following these findings, an aggressive health promotion program was created to encourage women to get Pap smears.
Chief Executive Mr. Davlin Thomas said that NCRHA will continue to engage in innovative initiatives to enhance 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 programs and create opportunities 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,” said the CEO, adding, “Programs like this, our Men’s Wellness Clinic, our Kids’ Wellness Clinic and Walk-The-Talk, among others, have proven to be very successful. The December Pap Smear Initiative is a testament to the fact that hundreds of women visit our facilities for early screening with each establishment. For 2022, we have seen a 400% increase in Pap test screenings between 2016 and 2022; that’s 400% more women accessing life-saving screenings. The implications are tremendous.”
In addition to the clinical services, attendees were also treated to entertainment from some special guests to ensure their stay was engaging and enjoyable. Some of the performers included: Amritam Shakti Dance. Company, Northwest Laventille Cultural Movement, Alicia Jagessar and Los Alumnos de San Juan, Marion Williams and Nichard M.
