“Service Above Self” With this compassionate credo, the Rotarians’ contributions have reshaped countless lives. Their tales of impact are legion, yet the “Healthy Mongolia” project stands as a luminous testament to their beneficence, a cornerstone of hope for the nation. From initiatives like “You Are a Hero Fighting Against Yourself,” uplifting children battling cancer, to myriad endeavors spanning diverse fields, their projects number in the hundreds. To chronicle the full scope of Mongolian Rotary Clubs’ humanitarian triumphs would fill volumes. Thus, we turn our gaze to the resplendent “Test for Life” project, a beacon in the health sector, sustained with unwavering dedication. For 13 years, from 2005 to 2018, this initiative has championed early detection of women’s cancers, touching over 30,000 mothers, daughters, and families across 330 soums in Mongolia’s 21 aimags. The World Health Organization notes that cervical cancer ranks as the second most prevalent malignancy among women.

Cancer, in its merciless grip, ravages not only the body but the spirit, finances, and families, casting a shadow over national economies. In this light, the “Test for Life” emerges as a vital bulwark, sparing the state coffers untold burdens—a triumph worthy of celebration. Its distinction lies not only in its longevity but in the cascade of blessings it has unleashed.

Sustaining such a project for a long time demands a symphony of resources: capital, labor, effort, initiative, collaboration, feedback, and foreign relationships. The “Test for Life” owes its triumph to meticulous planning, the creation of mobile clinics—veritable caravans of care—and the tireless efforts of its “saravais,” the devoted workers who fuel its mission.

In a land like Mongolia, deemed “developing” yet grappling with economic paucity, vast steppes, and a dispersed populace bereft of robust infrastructure, delivering diagnostics via mobile clinics is a feat both intricate and complicated. To developed nations, this endeavor might seem a fable spun from dreams. Yet, with a touch of enchantment, this aptly named project has wrought miracles. Mongolian healthcare luminaries, particularly cancer specialists, rightly proclaim that its impact must be viewed through a wider lens, its significance profound and far-reaching.

One truth shines clear: though the project’s formal span is marked as 2005–2018, its pulse beats on through the indomitable spirit of Dr. L. Bayarsaikhan. As its visionary and steward, he has ensured its enduring legacy. The countless survivors—diagnosed early and now thriving—bear witness to its unceasing vitality. Cancer, a labyrinthine foe, demands more than a single strike; it requires a gauntlet of treatments—surgery, chemotherapy, radiation—and vigilant monitoring for over 5 years. Thus, the “Test for Life” continues to bestow its gifts, reaching 40,000 souls, per recent tallies, far exceeding the latest statistics of 30,000 people as of the final stage. Its provision of not just diagnostics but comprehensive care to remote regions has been a dual victory, a lifeline to those far from urban havens.

Dr. L. Bayarsaikhan, a gynecologist, obstetrician, and erstwhile Ulaanbaatar Central Rotary Club president, reflects: “When we embarked on this journey, Mongolia lacked a dedicated program for cervical cancer prevention and early detection. For over a decade, we pioneered mobile clinics, delivering uninterrupted aid to rural and remote realms. We forged a collective, raising funds, assembling teams, and harmonizing efforts. Our work has proven that early-detected cervical cancer is conquerable—a pivotal revelation. Moreover, this project has kindled myriad health initiatives, setting a precedent for emulation. Thousands have been diagnosed, treated, and healed through our efforts. Even now, in rural visits, it warms the heart to meet those who, through our care, stand restored. This is the project’s truest reward.”

The project’s genesis traces to a personal tragedy: Dr. Bayarsaikhan’s grandmother succumbed to cervical cancer, igniting his resolve to champion prevention and early detection. “We assembled a cadre of specialized doctors and nurses,” he recounts. “Beyond detection, we ushered patients to advanced care, monitored their progress, and fostered reciprocal ties. Yet, the persistence of this disease and its toll underscore the need to amplify and diversify such efforts, establishing local units to bolster services. From its inception, our project has sown seeds for this evolution.” Its reach has extended to urban fringes and even women’s prisons, a testament to its boundless compassion since 2005.

The “Test for Life” stands as a Mongolian echo of Rotary International’s monumental “PolioPlus” program, launched in 1985 to eradicate polio globally. Backed by over 200 million US dollars from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation alone, “PolioPlus” has immunized over three billion children across 122 nations with over 2 billion US dollars with help of countless volunteers, its methodology later pivotal in taming the COVID-19 pandemic.

Similarly, the “Test for Life” began modestly in 2005, with Mongolian Rotary Clubs raising 12,000 US dollars sans foreign aid. The Khuree Rotary Club (2005–2014) laid its foundation, with the Ulaanbaatar Central Club carrying the torch thereafter. Initially co-funded by international partners, the latter decade saw the Ulaanbaatar Central Club sustain itself solely. This labor of love, uniting Rotarians from Mongolia, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan, birthed a mobile “hospital on the move,” a vivid emblem of global Rotary’s initiative and communal might.

In 2020, the WHO unveiled a global strategy to eradicate cervical cancer by 2030, urging nations, including the European Union, to slash incidence to four cases per 100,000 and reminding governments that they shall play a leading role in strategy development. Australia, a pioneer in HPV vaccination since 2009, aims to lead this charge, while Indonesia and the UK have set ambitious timelines to eradicate such disease by 2030 and 2040. Heeding the WHO’s call, Mongolia has joined the fray, yet much remains undone. Mega-projects like the “Test for Life” are vital to this quest, laying the foundation and setting a gold standard. Its crowning as Rotary Clubs International’s finest, adorned with the “Service Above Self” award, is a laurel richly earned. Studies reveal its ripple effects: a 45 per cent national cervical cancer screening rate, with over 75 per cent of cases caught early and treated. Dr. Bayarsaikhan underscores, however, that reliance on mobile clinics must yield to proactive local care, urging communities to seek early screenings—a charge for both citizens and government.

Brief Illuminations

• Rotary International was first established in America in 1905 as a club, with the aim of improving the quality of life in society, influencing the strengthening of peace throughout the world, implementing projects and programs, and uniting professionals and businessmen to achieve this. Later, it blossomed into the International Association of Rotary Clubs by 1912 and “Rotary International” by 1922, with over 46,000 units and 1.4 million members, weaving humanitarian tapestries worldwide, heedless of race, politics, or colour.
• In 1968, it birthed the “Rotaract Club” for ages 18–30 and the “Interact Club” for ages 12–18, nurturing future Rotarians.
• Rotarians cultivate seven domains: fostering peace, safeguarding maternal and child health, curbing disease, ensuring clean water, advancing education, bolstering local economies, and preserving the environment.
• Mongolians became members of the organization in 1995 and founded the "Ulaanbaatar Rotary Club". Currently, there are 23 "Rotary Clubs", 14 "Rotaract Clubs", and more than 20 "Interact Clubs", with a total of more than 1,600 members and supporters.

Journalist, “Unuudur” Newspaper Erdenetsetseg. J 91175355