New Cervical Cancer Program

Today we stopped by Shirati Mennonite Hospital, a hospital IMA supports in the Northwestern region of Tanzania.

We were able to review an IMA supported Care and Treatment Center for people who have tested HIV positive and visited the area where children are treated for Burkitt’s Lymphoma. I’ll have more to share on that at a later date.

I’m so impressed with the people running the hospital – the doctors, nurses and administrators who spend their days helping people in their hour of need.

IMA supports the hospital in different ways depending on the program, but mostly IMA provides technical assistance, medical supplies and training to help make the hospital more effective and efficient.

Today the Bishop of the hospital called a press conference to announce the start of a new IMA supported cervical cancer program.

In Tanzania, when a woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer there is only a 30-percent chance she will survive. This can be directly attributed to late diagnosis and late care from a health-care provider. To make matters worse, it is the most prevalent cancer among women in the country.

As we walked in the door, I saw a large group of women waiting for the screening process to begin.

I’ve posted a photo of IMA Program Officer Sister Margaret Ishengoma as she tells them what to expect during the exam.

We’re covering a lot of ground on this trip, but today marks the beginning of another relationship between IMA and Shirati Mennonite Hospital. It’s a relationship that will save the lives of women in Tanzania for years to come.

I realize these posts aren't about climbing Kilimanjaro. I don't start up the mountain until Sept 2nd, between now and then I'll be making more site visits to see IMA's work in the field.

Tomorrow night I fly to Dar es Salaam, then the next stop is Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Stay with me, this trip is about more than climbing a mountain. It always has been.