Constructive help for maids

[Bay]

I'm interested in some advice from "old timers" about how to start lobbying to get the maid's medical changed.

My maid had her 6 monthly check up the other day - which took about 45 seconds - and it occurred to me that there is nothing about the medical process that addresses the health or wellbeing of the maid.  The focus of the current medical is ensuring that pregnancy and aids, drains on the public purse, are identified so the maid can be sent home.

Why isn't there a pap smear?  This is almost the single greatest breakthrough in women's health in half a century.  It addresses one of the most common cancers in women, and if detected early it is pretty well 100% curable.

Singapore has tens of thousands of women (maids) who are not getting any screening for this disease - which almost guarantees that by the time it is diagnosed it is too late.  All other women are encouraged to have a test once a year - so why aren't the maids given this life saving opportunity.

Something as simple as requiring a pap smear once a year in the maid medical could be responsible for saving the lives of thousands of these girls. It would be a negligible cost increase to employers - so we are not in the league of arguements that accompanies maid levy discussions.

So - my question is - for those of us who do feel a duty of care, who is the best target to lobby?  The press, the Minister for Health - are there any maid issue lobby groups?

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Imagine]

Time for Operation OPS.
OPS = Operation Pap Smear.

[OPS2]

You have a very valid point and I'm glad there's someone like you who cares.

My guess is the Ministry of Manpower since they are the ones who require the bi yearly medical check up.

If you do need any strength in nos. I would be glad to volunteer.
My email riasm_sg@yahoo.com

Cheers!

[lp_backpacker]

perhaps all the sg govt cares abt are contagious disease carried by maid that may be passed on to the employer's family?  

[Dr Opinion]

> "...a pap smear..."

I think you'll find that many rural girls would find this inexplicable intrusion *absolutely* unacceptable. If you were suggesting a gyny who wasn't female they'd probably think you'd gone insane.  

[Noddy]

Imagine - "Operation OPS" = Oops!!!  

[Bay]

I'm not actually suggesting that we hold them down and do it by force.  Rather that it is an option that the Dr gives them at the time of the medical - would you like to be screened for cervical cancer.  You could support the program by using the women from within the various maid communities/embassies/church groups etc to give talks about the benefits etc.  How it is almost 100% curable if detected early and fatal if it is not.  They could tell them that women from developing nations have the highest rates of morbid cervical cancer in the world - mostly due to the lack of screening opportunities and lack of information.

While a lot of these girls don't have much education, they aren't stupid.  They all would know of friends or relatives who've gone back "home" with whatever disease.  I personally know of two cases of maids with breastcancer -having to deal with this in the Philippines, without an income or insurance etc.  Most of these women are supporting children, and sometimes whole extended families.  They don't want to get sick and they don't want to die.

If they were informed, and had the option of selecting the procedure (which would be paid for by their employer or the govt) a lot of them might choose to be screened.  They are unlikely to seek the screening out themselves as they wouldn't be able to afford in on the salaries that most (NOT ALL) people pay them.

The single biggest obstacle to decent cancer screening in the developing world is the cost of establishing the infrastructure.  Here in Singapore it already exists - including this would be an incremental cost to the MOM and an enormous benefit to these women (who are directly underwriting the productivity of Singapore.)

Don't let the fact that it's an icky procedure detract from the fact that it's a life saver.  And next time you hear someone bleating about bloody Anita Mui - ask them when they had their last pap smear?

[This message has been edited by Bay (edited 18-01-2004).]

[Mr W]

Bay - firstly I cannot believe your ignorance in the first place.

You as the employer can pay for anything you want your maid to have done at the doctors.

If you think it is in her best interest to have a PAP smear, then suggest it to her and I am sure she woule oblige for her own sake.

What about having her breasts checked for lumps too?  My wife took our maid the first check up she had and had the doctor show her how to examine her breasts.  She also had a pap smear which was the first one she had ever had at 35 years of age.

Your point is valid, but if you want to change things, the power is all with you.