Patient Care
During 19 training courses since 2006, BHI has screened over 8000 women for cervical cancer, treated over 100 biopsy-confirmed cervical pre-cancers, and diagnosed and treated 13 cervical cancers.
In 2010 alone, we trained 27 new providers in VIA and cryotherapy, educated 150 health promoters about HPV and cervical cancer and screened over 1200 women for cervical cancer. BHI provides cervical cancer screening to between 500-1000 women during each provider training course. We are proud that we guarantee swift and adequate follow-up for all women who have an abnormal screening results.
We also conduct small-scale screening campaigns for the most under-served women of El Salvador. We have worked at the Rosa Virginia Peletier Women’s Prison in Ilopango, San Salvador, which was built for 300 women, but houses over 700. Basic Health International screened 31 women in the prison.
We have also conducted screening at the Export Salva Factory in Zona Franca, which is an industrial business park that manufactures towels.
For the past five years Basic Health International has focused on El Salvador’s Paracentral Region, one of the most underserved regions of the country. In 2007, only 22.1% of women received a Pap smear. During BHI delegations, women living in the most rural communities gain access to comprehensive patient care and health services.
We currently have 29 active patients.
Patient House in San Salvador:
Basic Health International rents a house in San Salvador for our patients who have cervical cancer. We currently have 29 active patients. All of these patients are coming from rural areas. For these women, coming into the city and paying for cancer treatment would be prohibitively expensive. Basic Health International’s Patient House provides these women with a comfortable place to stay while they are in San Salvador for their treatment.
While the Patient House is a necessary part of our mission to eradicate cervical cancer, it is also one of the most expensive initiatives. Not only does Basic Health International pay for the patients’ treatments and rent the house, but we also provide the patients with transportation to, from and around San Salvador and provide the patients with meals.
One of our biggest needs is the cost associated with the Patient House. While we believe that it is an integral part of our mission, it is also one of the most costly. We strongly urge potential donors to consider the costs of the Patient House when making their donation.
Patient Focus:
Click here to view details of our past delegation visits.