Archived News Item
‘A Seed Has Sprouted!’ Mercy Works Inspires
December 6, 2021
Dr Grace Raire addressing a group of women about keeping themselves safe by checking for cervical changes
The Catherine McAuley Well-Woman’s HPV Project, completed in September 2021 in Wewak in Papua New Guinea, will have lifesaving outcomes, according to medical experts on the ground.
The first of its kind Mercy Works project, led by Sr Rachael Waisman RSM and midwife Rhonda Hikin, was implemented by the Sisters of Mercy over two years and ran in collaboration with the Catholic Health Services in the Diocese of Wewak. It will reduce the statistics of women killed by cervical cancer and has been such a success it is now being introduced in other Provinces.
Cervical cancer is almost an epidemic throughout PNG with little or no awareness about the HPV virus, which is often contracted in youth but takes 15-20 years to develop into cancerous growths. Unlike in Australia, no vaccinations are available, pap smears are not a viable option and there are little to no symptoms. Early identification before it is too far advanced is key.
Inspired by the number of women with cervical cancer in their mid-to-late 40s, the Sisters of Mercy initiated and promoted life-saving HPV awareness to communities and training to health workers as well as access for women to health clinics for appropriate HPV testing and referral pathways to specialist treatment.
The project saw staff upskill to identify women at risk at the earliest stage possible by performing routine examinations, including a technique using ascetic acid (VIA) which identifies suspicious cells that require follow up care.
“For my own experience it is like rescuing a
woman on the death row,”
– Helen W. Krevi, Officer in charge of the
Divine Word Clinic Wewak
Dr Grace Raire, The Boram Hospital obstetrician and gynaecologist, came on board providing necessary equipment and information for the trainee staff workshop in September.
While it was a drawn-out process due to Covid lockdowns, community sessions for 6,890 people including four secondary schools, 13 primary schools and 25 parishes were completed by August. Importantly men, young boys and girls also attended the sessions to understand the deadly virus which too often takes their mothers, wives, and grandmothers away.
“Since undergoing VIA training in August, a lot of women have been coming to my clinic to request information and screening for the HPV virus,” said CHW worker Helen W. Krevi, the officer in charge of the Divine Word Clinic in Wewak. “These women are experiencing symptoms which they have kept to themselves as there is nowhere to go to seek help for their problems. Now help is at our doorstep!”
She says the impact cannot be underestimated. “Early detection is the key to saving their lives as too many have already perished from cervical cancer, and this will have a huge impact by reducing the numbers of deaths.”
Of the sixteen women who have undergone screening [this month], three have tested positive for VIA and have been referred to Dr Grace for further tests and management. “For my own experience it is like rescuing a woman on the death row,” says Krevi.
“Thank you, Sisters of Mercy and Dr Grace. I look forward to strengthening the work of VIA and have women’s lives saved and be transformed. A seed planted by the Sisters of Mercy has sprouted. Congratulations!”
The Sisters visited groups of any size and anywhere to share information on HPV. January 2021
Community Groups gather to hear lifesaving information about HPV infections and risk factors
Community meeting places such as this one filled to the brim for information shared by the Sisters awareness raising teams with midwife Rhonda Hikin
December 7 2021.
Messages to: jo.casamento@mercyworks.org.au