Home > Activities supported by FCP Foundation > Training and Education > Student Exchange > Sabrina van den Tillaart, working on education for nurses
Sabrina van den Tillaart
Also Sabrina van den Tillaart went to Surinam for the FCP. Here she tells her story.
Since February 2006, I’ve taken part in the See & Treat Program in Surinam. Before I went to Surinam I was well informed about the ins and outs of the program, by Fleur Henderson and Karyn In ‘t Veld in Leiden. Of course, after four years of study and almost two years of internships in the Netherlands, I didn’t exactly know what to expect of a young medical program in a Third World Country. After my arrival in the beautiful and warm Surinam I started to work at the Foundation of Lobi, the partner of the Female Cancer Programme in Paramaribo. After the preparations were done, we left for the fieldwork. I participated in the follow-up of the women who were screened and treated for a pre-malignant stage of cervical cancer in 2005. Under supervision of doctor Antoon Grunberg, I examined women that were treated in 2005, to see whether the changes at the cervix were gone. I was surprised by the great efficiency of the collaboration between FCP, foundation of Lobi, the Surinam Regional Health Care workers, and Gynaecologists.
This was not only shown by the arrangements that were made for our stay and practice, but also by the awareness of the patients. Almost all women were well informed about the reason and practice of the screening programme! The screening and follow-up is now performed by doctors of the Female Cancer Programme. To make the See & Treat Program last in the future, it is important to teach the screening and treatment skills to local Surinam health care workers. Therefore, one of my tasks is to develop a training program.
After the training, competent health care workers are able to continue and perhaps expand the screening programme. With two more months to go, I already look back on a instructive and useful period in Surinam. I am happy to be able to participate in a ambitious and important Programme like the See & Treat Programme.