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PRIMARY
HEALTH CARE INITIATIVE: UKRAINE | |
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Life Saving New Screening Programs in Ukraine Expanding its scope of basic care to more sophisticated diagnostic services, the PHCI in southeastern Ukraine, has begun three important screening programs. Since March of 2004, the PHCI has initiated a cardiovascular screening program in 30 villages surrounding the city of Mariupol, Ukraine. Through it medical mobile unit program, the PHCI has screened more than 30,000 people for diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure, hoping to identify people who are at high risk for cardiovascular disease. 
Cardiovascular screening program This screening program has identified many people who were in need of medical attention for heart disease. Through the new diagnostic health care center in Mariupol, those patients with a high risk for heart disease received further diagnostic testing and some patients were referred to the local hospital for special procedures. In most cases, patients received medicines and were given instruction on how to lower the cholesterol through diet and exercise. The PHCI produced three informational videos on heart disease that were shown at local community centers in the villages. Through the nurses’ program, nurses conducted weekly nutritional classes and check patients’ blood pressure and progress with diet and exercise. The newest screening program is the breast cancer project. Beginning in February, 120 women have participated in the screening program receiving, in many cases, their first mammogram. Thus far, 20 cases of breast cancer have been detected. The center in Mariupol is also performing biopsies to determine the type and stage of breast cancer. Patients who have breast cancer are referred to the local hospital for treatment. A major awareness campaign is under way to encourage more women to seek a mammogram and to learn the steps of self-examination. 
Mammology unit HIV/AIDS is a growing health problem in Mariupol. In March 2003, the PHCI began an extensive HIV/AIDS awareness campaign that included announcements on local radio and public service ads on local television. The campaign also included a march, the first ever conducted in Mariupol for HIV/AIDS, which attracted 2,000 people. A month long art exhibit featuring the works local artists who were HIV positive, had over 20,000 visitors and in June of 2004, the project staff organized a race for the cure with local health officials. 
HIV seminar In addition to these community events, the PHCI distributed thousands of informational brochures and leaflets. Community education seminars were held at the local colleges and a peer-group counseling program for pre-teens was also conducted. The peer-group counseling program proved to be particularly effective with kids, who themselves were trained to be group leaders, organizing after school programs and weekend activities promoting prevention of HIV/AIDS as well as smoking and alcohol. 
HIV awareness peer group Together, these three new programs are advancing health care services in Maruipol. With the emphasis not only on primary health care, the PHCI enters a new phase of health care delivery in offering these important screening programs. | |
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