Medical Training
Since 2006, we have held 19 training courses for more than 70 healthcare providers, during which we have screened over 8,000 women, identified and treated over 100 precancerous lesions and 10 invasive cervical cancers. We have also trained 125 health promoters in cervical cancer education, who will educate their communities regarding HPV and cervical cancer.
Basic Health works with the Salvadoran Ministry of Health to integrate a single-visit approach to cervical cancer screening and treatment into an already existing cytology program. One low-cost, low-tech screening method we use is visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA). We also train healthcare providers to treat cervical precancer with cryotherapy.
VIA and cryotherapy are simple, low-cost alternatives to the Pap test, the standard screening method in the US. VIA and cryotherapy are excellent alternatives for rural areas because they can be conducted without electricity or running water in a single visit. VIA screening is a speculum exam in which a 3-5% acetic acid (similar to household vinegar) is applied to the cervix, allowing the healthcare provider to check for the presence of precancerous lesions with the naked eye. Precancerous lesions on the cervix will turn white when the acid is applied. This simple procedure can be done in a clinic setting without the use of a laboratory and allows for immediate treatment of precancerous lesions with cryotherapy. VIA can be done with nothing more than a flashlight, speculum, an ounce of vinegar, and cotton swabs.
Sustainability is the overarching framework of Basic Health International’s model in the regions where we work. BHI believes training in-country physicians and other healthcare professionals to provide gynecological care in rural areas will reinforce sustainable health practices and capacitate local healthcare providers. This replicable, portable system is adaptable and places little burden on the public health system.
In the future we hope to incorporate a rapid HPV test into our single-visit approach.