Osta Mednad Success Story

Originally from the beautiful city of Port-au-Prince in Haiti, Osta Mednad (nicknamed Tata) crossed the border in order to seek a second opportunity in her brother's country approximately 4 years ago with the dream of later moving to Brazil. “I have always loved Brazilian culture; “Her music, her seasoning, reminds me a lot of my country,” he said to her, with a rather picturesque smile.

However, her life changed drastically with news regarding her health. During one of the Community Clinics for Women's Health, Tata learned about our work through a referral from her brother who serves as one of our community leaders in the municipal city of Puerto Plata. “I felt a lot of stomach pain. It was a completely inexplicable pain, and quite persistent. I was very afraid, but I still didn't dare to visit a doctor,” she said with clear anxiety.

During the community clinic, Tata, like dozens of women impacted that same day, received a workshop on the importance of routine check-ups and how some pathologies disproportionately affect women; and then continue with a physical examination and a Pap test. “I had never seen a doctor, but the staff at HHI made me feel comfortable. I don't speak Spanish, and yet, there was a person translating for me. “I felt for the first time that I was a human being who was being listened to and valued,” she added.

Unfortunately, Tata's results were not as expected, and she was diagnosed with HPV with a colposcopy that showed malignancy for which she was immediately enrolled in treatment.

“I thought she was going to die on me. I didn't really understand my diagnosis, but the foundation immediately enrolled me in its treatment, follow-up, and psychological service regimen. I worried, but something told me to be calm. I tried to vent my sorrows a little by writing and distracting myself, I wrote many poems and stories that would take me away a little from what could be a crude and difficult reality.” Tata commented on how she felt receiving her diagnosis.

Tata is one of the thousands of women in the world who face or have faced cervical cancer. In the Dominican Republic, cervical cancer is among the two most common cancers in women. According to the hospital tumor registry, cervical cancer registers 22.4%.

Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, with an estimated incidence of 604,000 new cases in 2020. Of the estimated 342,000 deaths from cervical cancer in 2020, more than 90% took place in low- and middle-income countries.

Thanks to the early intervention of Health Horizons International Foundation, Tata was able to undergo surgery and treatment at no cost, changing the course of her life. During our visit, Tata seemed victorious, happy and smiling, full of life.

“I feel eternally grateful to you. I hope more women are daring, and choose to go to this type of service. I hope that my story inspires other women and that they see that prevention is the key. Do not be afraid. Everything has a solution in time. Now I continue dancing, singing, writing, but poems of struggle and not sadness,” our dear patient concluded.