Working closely with women’s physicians in the community, our group of first year medical students identified the need of improved patient education for the women of Trinidad & Tobago. The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has a population of 1.337 million, of which almost half are women. These women are plagued with numerous reproductive health problems, complications due to sexually transmitted infections, and other conditions which have the potential to negatively affect the quality of life of the individual affected. Project Lighthouse aims to service a large cross-section of women in the community to help control and curb the damage that these diseases may cause in the lives of individuals who are or may become affected. Our team has conducted both an online and in-person survey targeting women between the ages of 18 to 30, to determine the information that women in the community are lacking. The results of the survey and the prevalence of the following illnesses in our target age group led us to focus our efforts on: Uterine Fibroids, Urinary Incontinence (post pregnancy), Sexually Transmitted Infections, Polycystic O***y Syndrome, and Human Papillomavirus & Cervical Cancer. Gaining knowledge on these common reproductive diseases can aid in the development of a healthier lifestyle and may even prolong life. Therefore, we encourage this information to be shared without inhibition with women and girls of all ages, as it is never to early to form healthy life habits. Project Lighthouse aims to ultimately to promote health by making women more aware of common reproductive health illnesses and encourage women to visit their physicians for a regular checkups. As a lighthouse guides ships to a safe harbour, we aim to guide women to the resources necessary to ensure better health.
