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Dewi Peti Virgianti
Hiii...my name is Dewi Peti Virgianti, I am 25 years old, I graduated from Padjadjaran University, Biology department of Science Faculty. Before I joined this project I worked at Laboratorium Pathology Anatomi of Tasikmalaya public hospital in the morning and in the afternoon l was a biology teacher at a junior high school.
Then dr. Dwi Tyasmorowati recommended me to become a screener for this project. Siliwangi University sent me as a screener with 3 other persons, namely: Yesi, Beti,Yeti to study Citology at Indonesia University. We have been taught by a Professional Doctor for 2 months. And then we became a cytoscreener. I was so happy I could join the FcP team of Tasikmalaya, Jakarta and Bali!
Being a cytoscreener was a challenging job for me because we had to finish the diagnoses of many patients within 2 hours.....It was hard work, but it is wonderful to see the enthusiasm of patient to cure her self. :-)
In the first fase of the project, we diagnosed at Unsil (Siliwangi University). Patients came from many places of Tasik city to Unsil to do the examination. It was the first time to have a pap smear done for most of them. They had various conditions in education, income and habit.
In the second fase of the project, we went to many places in the sub district area. We traveled far from town...many roads were very bad, a lot of holes and rocks. So there were many funny stories each day during the trip we shared among members of the team. So...each day...we became a solid and great team I think. And as well became solid with "Nice and Smart Dutch ladies " dr. Rossalinda and dr. Hannah Kramer. ;-)
At the villages, almost all the patient have a low education and a low income. So, the team had to be very patient in explaining and doing the examination. It took a long time to interview them because they didn't understand why they were asked to join this program and what the benefits were. They were very shy undergoing the pap smear although the doctor was a real women. What would happen if the doctor was a man....hahaa :-D
But...whatever...I really appreciated the patients. Because after joining the program they were really thankful and wanted the examination again next time, maybe even every year.
Based on my experience, I can conclude that Indonesian women, especially village women (like in Tasikmalaya), need to become more aware about cervical cancer because our patients really didn't knew and didn't understand what cervical cancer was about. They have a stringent regulation of their religion and a wonderful culture. If we can contribute a modern mind like "knowledge of health", we can create something greatl. And then we can say together: "Toward the world without cervical cancer".
At last... I want to say to the LUMC thank you so much for the care ness to us.... And I think many more people in Indonesia really thank to LUMC and the donators.
I hope, Tasikmalaya will have a cancer foundation as a follow up of this programme, so we can continue our aim.
Best regard,
Dewi Peti Virgianti, S. Si
(Tasikmalaya Cytoscreener)