Quang Tri: Reproductive health checkup for women with disabilities

In 2 days, from April 21 to 24, 2022, the Action to the Community Development Institute (ACDC) coordinated with the Organization of Persons with Disabilities,  and the Department of Health of Quang Tri province organized reproductive health checkup for more than 100 women and girls with disabilities between the ages of 15 and 55 in 3 communes namely Phong Binh, Gio Son and Linh Hai of Gio Linh district, Quang Tri province.

This activity aims to improve the accessibility to health care services in general and reproductive health in particular for women with disabilities,  and to promptly detect health problems, especially diseases related to reproductive and sexual health for  them. Through general examination, gynecological examination, ultrasound, electrocardiogram, and other basic tests, many women were found to have goiters, genital infections, uterine fibroids, polyps/uterine cysts, high blood pressure, fatty liver, kidney stones, etc.

Attending the examination, Ms. N.T.N, a woman with mobility disabilities in Gio Son district confided: “I was very happy when I received the notice to have a check-up, because my house is far from the medical center, so I have never had a general health check-up like this before. I would like to say thank  you to the project for sponsoring and enabling me and many other women with disabilities in the commune to have the checkup”

Dr. Hoang Quoc Vu - Director of Gio Linh District Health Center shared: “We have detected many cases of women with disabilities getting goiters, cysts, fibroids, even suspected cases of cervical cancer. Next week,  , we will send the suspected case of cervical cancer for a research team from Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy for HPV testing and possibly do higher tests for a definitive diagnosis. This health checkup is a good opportunity for women with disabilities to have a comprehensive examination and pay special attention to reproductive health to detect diseases, thereby they can be consulted and treated  promptly. Our medical center has used the drug source of Health Insurance or family planning program to treat cases of illness.”

The activity is part of the project "Raising Voices, Creating Opportunities - II" sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It is expected that in the near future, the project will continue to implement more activities to promote inclusion and improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities in the locality.