We have just completed our work in the small towns of Nyabondo and
Muhoroni. Our trainees have been exceptional - sharp, adaptable, eager
to learn. By seeing as many patients as they could over the course of a
week, they have built solid skills in VIA, a few certifying in
cryotherapy and LEEP. They are warm and kind as they teach their
patients the importance of cervical cancer screening or how to do a self
breast exam, and they take time to connect with each patient, caring
for them as if they were family members. I am especially impressed by
the caliber of our Kenyan nursing colleagues, many of whom bring years
of career experience not only diagnosing and treating patients, but
simultaneously managing the ward, covering administrative duties,
processing labs, and providing outreach and case management. 
Each
day, with headlamps donned, we stocked and set up our five clinic
rooms, careful to make our few precious linens, instruments, and
supplies last. Women arrived by busload from neighboring villages,
sometimes traveling overnight to reach our clinic. All day they sat and
waited patiently to be screened - quiet, stoic, but with enthusiastic
eyes. Each woman was eager to enter our simple, sweltering exam room,
for her turn to learn the results about her screening exam. Some
received news that they would need further treatment that day, while a
few were found to have advanced cancer. But I will never forget the
relief and excitement of the majority of the women screened who received
the much anticipated news that they do not have any signs of cervical
cancer. Many of these women would go on to tell friends, sisters, aunts
and coworkers to come for VIA screening for the very first time.
by Kimberlee Honda, Family Nurse Practitioner. This was my first PINCC trip!
No comments:
Post a Comment