A Homecoming: Women’s Health and HPV Screening

August 2025 marked a homecoming for our founders and the beginning of The Well Projects’ work in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Working hand in hand with Sang Tabou, we offered free HPV (human papillomavirus) screening at Olympic Hospital in Kinshasa.

Many of the women we served had never received a Pap smear and had limited familiarity with HPV, what it meant for their health, or its connection to cervical cancer.

Our goal was not simply to screen women during our time in Kinshasa and then leave. Through our collaboration with Sang Tabou, women could remain connected to local care, education, and appropriate follow-up long after our departure.

We are deeply grateful to Sandra, founder and CEO of Sang Tabou; Dr. Olivier, who played a vital role in organizing the event, securing the space, and bringing three additional physicians together to serve; and the entire Sang Tabou team.

Every person played a role in creating a place where women could learn about their health, ask questions, be screened, and be cared for with dignity.

Menstrual Health, Education, and Sustainability

Our partnership with Sang Tabou also created an opportunity to address another important aspect of women’s health: menstrual care.

Through a generous donation from AllMatters, reusable menstrual cups were provided to Sang Tabou so that education and distribution could continue after our departure.

Unlike disposable pads and tampons that must be purchased and discarded with every menstrual cycle, a menstrual cup can be cleaned and reused for years. This can help reduce recurring expenses, decrease menstrual waste, and provide a sustainable option for women who may not always have consistent access to menstrual products.

But providing the cups alone was not enough. Education is an essential part of menstrual health.

The plan with Sang Tabou included teaching women how menstrual cups work, how to insert and remove them safely, how to properly clean and care for them, and how reusable menstrual products can become another option for managing their periods with confidence and dignity.

By leaving the menstrual cups with a trusted local partner, the goal was not simply to distribute a product during one mission. It was to equip those already serving women in Kinshasa with another resource they could continue to use, teach about, and share.