THE Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation’s CNMI Cancer and Associated Risks Early Screening, or CARES, Project is the bronze winner of the American College of Healthcare Executives Excellence Award for Leadership and Management.
CHCC Chief Executive Officer Esther L. Muna and Dr. John M. Tudela were in Dubai earlier this month for the International Hospital Federation Awards 2022 ceremony, which recognizes excellence in healthcare.
According to the IHF Awards 2022 digital publication, the description of the CHCC’s award says, “Late-stage cancer detection is a significant cause of mortality among patients. Unfortunately, in the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands, early cancer screening is largely unavailable to the island’s 50,000 inhabitants, as residents often do not access care for cultural, family, religious, and financial reasons.”
The CARES project was created to provide no-cost cancer prevention counseling, vaccines, screening advice and testing to residents, beginning with the hospital’s employees before expanding to community members.
“Cancer is particularly prevalent in the territory. Since betel nut chewing is common, oral cavity cancer is found in young adults and has contributed to 13% of cancer-related mortalities. The CARES project sought to remove barriers to care accessibility by providing screening at no cost. The program also offers reduced treatment costs to ensure sustainable care for patients.”
The IHF Awards 2022 is sponsored by the American College of Healthcare Executives, the American Hospital Association, Austco, Japanese Red Cross Society-Ashikaga Hospital and Nikken Group, Seddiqi Holding, Ministry of Health-Sultanate of Oman, Dr. Kwang Tae Kim, and Vizient.
For more information about the Northern Marianas Oncology Center, visit https://www.chcc.health/cancercenter.php/.
Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation Chief Executive Officer Esther L. Muna and Dr. John Tudela accept the bronze American College of Healthcare Executives Excellence Award for Leadership and Management in Dubai, where this year’s International Hospital Federation Awards ceremony was held.
