Implementing Clubs: Khuree Rotary Club and UB Central Rotary Club

The “Test for Life” project stands out as one of the longest-running and most impactful healthcare initiatives in Mongolia. Focused on early detection of cervical cancer, the campaign ran continuously for 13 years (2005–2018), offering vital medical services across the country where benefits of this project reached more than 30,000 mothers and women, along with their families, across 330 soums in all 21 provinces of Mongolia.

At the time the project began, no nationwide program existed in Mongolia for the prevention or early diagnosis of cervical cancer—despite it being the second most common cancer among women, according to the World Health Organization. Over a decade, despite its launch as a mobile clinic, the project has successfully provided sustained medical outreach to remote and rural areas of Mongolia. One of the key outcomes of the initiative was its clear demonstration that early detection of cervical cancer can save lives, highlighting the importance of access to preventative care even in the most underserved regions. For its pioneering work and life-saving impact, the “Test for Life” campaign was recognized internationally by Rotary International and awarded the “Service Above Self” Award, one of Rotary’s highest honors.

In 2012, the Ministry of Health of Mongolia launched a nationwide HPV vaccination program targeting adolescents to prevent cervical cancer. There is no doubt that this initiative was influenced by the long-standing impact of the 13-year “Test for Life” campaign led by Rotarians.

From 2018 to 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced a global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer, prompting governments around the world to launch national programs and begin implementing large-scale projects aligned with this effort.