Addressing the problem
Pacific countries are making strides towards their goals to improve maternal health (Millennium Development Goal 5). However, we’re still some way to go, with the South Pacific region ranking third worst behind Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia.
In the Pacific, where populations are often spread across remote and difficult to access islands, ensuring adequate and appropriate healthcare to reach populations is a major challenge for governments and development partners.
Based on a report by World Health Organisation (WHO) of the South Pacific Region:
- Women in the 15–29 years age group, non-communicable diseases account for 30% of deaths, communicable diseases and maternal causes 6%.
- HIV/AIDS is the 10th leading cause of death. Biological factors, lack of access to information and health services, economic vulnerability and unequal power in sexual relations expose young women to HIV infection.
- Women in the reproductive age group bear an unfair share of ill-health from communicable and non-communicable diseases and injuries as well as reproductive causes.
In the South Pacific, women face particular challenges and issues such as high maternal mortality ratios and infant mortality rates, reproductive tract infections (RTI), sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV/AIDS, cancers, and other problems related to ageing.
How you can improve women’s health?
As part of the 17th Annual National Women’s Health Week, we’re making it a priority to bring awareness to clinicians. Trade Link International (TLI) is empowering professionals nationwide by providing them with products and test kits that enable recommended screenings as part of National Women’s Checkup Day, and throughout the year.
To safeguard the health of women in the South Pacific Islands, we are looking to promote awareness in the use of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) that contributes to earlier detection, more accurate diagnoses and better overall patient care.
RDTs are particularly important in low-resource settings, where:
- Harsh environmental conditions combined with limited access to electricity and refrigeration preclude the use of sensitive equipment
- Technology, equipment, and training required for more complicated laboratory tests are lacking
- Many patients cannot travel easily to the clinic to follow-up on results that take a long time
These products can be used in many settings, including hospital urgent care, maternity clinic, doctor’s office or laboratory.
Healthcare providers can diagnose problems quickly, and encourages patients to seek the correct medical care – greatly enhancing the quality of care received for women.
Product range: Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits
Learn more about our comprehensive range of high-quality testing kits designed in the diagnosis and management of conditions that impact women.
1. TORCH Panel Rapid Test: TOxoplasmosis, Rubella, CMV, HSV–1 & HSV-2.
- 5-in-1 test
- This unique TORCH panel allows instant screening of infectious diseases that can cause birth defects in a baby if the mother is infected during pregnancy.
- Convenient procedure and reliable results when compared with alternative test options
2. HcG Rapid Test
- Detection of early pregnancy.
- The test is a lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay that provides a quick direct visual test for the placental hormone, hCG, at the cut-off level of 25 mIU hCG/mL of human urine or serum.
3. Thyroid Panel ELISA
- Thyroid Stiulating Hormone (TSH), total Triiodothyronine (T3), total Thyroxine (T4), Free T3 and Free T4.
- 50% of middle aged women suffer from thyroid disorders.
4. Sexually Transmitted Disease Rapid Test
- HIV-1/2, HSV-1/2, Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
- Women are more susceptible than men to acquiring sexually transmitted infections, many of which are asymptomatic and undetected which can lead to further health complications.
5. Thyroid Panel ELISA
- Anti-Thyroglobulin (anti-Tg), Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase (Anti-TPO)
6. Cancer Marker ELISA
- Cancer markers CA 125, CA 15-3. CA 19-9, and β-hCG
- 2016 estimated number of new cancer cases in women:
- Breast 249,260
- Ovarian 22,280
7. Vitamin ELISA
- Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH)
- Vitamin deficiencies can greatly impede a women’s health
Leading Choice for Rapid Prenatal Screening
TORCH Panel Rapid Test
The unique advantages of TORCH Panel Rapid Test for preventing infection to the foetus or new born of a group of infectious agents:
- 5-in-1 test: Determination of infection status of all 5 diseases in a single test device by detecting and differentiating BOTH IgM and IgG in all 5
tests. - Differentiation of HSV-1 & HSV-2: Type-specific detection of
HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection, which share many similarities. - Follows US CDC Guidelines:
Utilizes recombinant HSV-specific glycoprotein G1 and G2 for type-specific detection of HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection as recommended by US CDC. - Semi-quantitative
detection of Rubella IgG in specimens.
Level 1: Analytic sensitivity 15 IU/mL, indicating protective immunity.
Level 2: Analytic sensitivity 250 IU/mL, indicating acute infection. - Whole blood specimen: Can be run with whole blood patient specimens, enabling true Point-of-Care testing
Join TLI to keep those we love stronger, healthier and happier.
For more information about our TORCH panel and other related neonatal and hormone IVD products, please contact our healthcare division below:
