During the month of July 2013, the health care staff of the Municipality of Shushica in Elbasan, participated in a training with the theme: “The Prevention of Cervical Cancer”, organized by Diakonia Agapes (the social services office of development and emergences of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania), part of the project, “Strengthening of the Women”. With the financial support of “Bread for the World – Germany”, the cooperation of the Municipality of Shushica and accredited by the National Center of Continuation of Education, the three day training enabled 16 members of the medical staff to study causes, diagnosis, and in particular the importance of community awareness for the regular performance by the doctor of the Pap test.During the various sessions, participants divided into groups, discussed their experiences with the community, especially women, the shortages and the difficulties that they experience in performing the necessary examinations to prevent the disease. They also mentioned some of the obstacles for the qualitative and dignified health care services for about 10,000 residents of their municipality. For example, there are severe shortages in the medical infrastructure and few opportunities to update their knowledge. At the same time, they appreciated the support provided by the project for the improvement of this infrastructure and the training which they have participated in since the project began in 2012
The leaders of this staff confirmed that the training enables them to provide quality service and to improve the health indicators that are linked with the control of cervical or breast cancer , which is an acute health problem not only for 2000 women over the age of 35, but for all the residents of the municipality.
Olta Ndroqi
