Project Advocate: Max Barus MD, Miki MacDonald FNP, Holly Weidner PA
Outline of Project: The RAAN region has extremely high rates of cervical cancer, a
devastating and lethal disease that affects women in the prime of life. This project attempts to
address the myriad difficulties inherent in creating a comprehensive cervical cancer prevention
program. This requires the development and support of all links in the chain required
for cervical cancer prevention: Education & Outreach, Pap screening, Cytology, Tracking,
Colposcopy, Pathology, LEEP and surgery services. In the past few years all of these areas
have seen substantial advances.
Accomplishments of Project August 2007-2008:
Goals for the next year:
We plan to continue to support the various components of the project:
Education & Outreach. We want to utilize a local nurse, Erna Patterson, to provide educational
outreach to women in area villages via women’s church groups. We want to increase the “Pap
Brigade” program, where clinicians visit villages annually and provide Pap testing to a large
portion of the women.
• Pap Screening: Continue to provide supplies to the Polyclinic in Puerto Cabezas.
• Cytology: Support cytology screening with supplies, equipment and Quality control via
visiting Pathologists and Dr. Tenorio.
• Colposcopy: Support with supplies and equipment and ongoing services provided by
Dr. Ballesteros.
• Pathology: See Pathology project
• LEEP: Definitive treatment for many women will be accomplished by the provision of
LEEP services. We hope to recruit Gynecological volunteers who will provide LEEP
teaching to Dr. Ballesteros, PIH members and local Gynecologists.
• Surgery: See Surgery project.
Funding: Donations; small grants
Volunteer Visits: January 2008; September 2008
Next Visit: January 2009