Te Waka Wahine Hauora — The Woman’s Health Bus was on-site in Alexandra, providing rapid testing and treatment for women.
Dr Helen Paterson said the aim of the bus was to provide routine screening to those who struggled to receive it.
"We come to these events with Uruuruwhenua [Hauora Health Inc] to try and break down some of the barriers for accessing care, particularly rural wāhine who are somewhat migrant."
On the bus, she could provide care such as STI checks, cervical screening and contraception.
A recent addition is a Rotary-funded point-of-care machine — "basically like a mini lab" — to use for rapid testing.
"You can pee in a pottle and we’ll get your result back within an hour and a-half," Dr Paterson said.
"That means we can then give you treatment here."
The bus was self-sufficient — designed to be able to pull up to a shearing shed.
"We’ve been trying to go places where we’re needed and wanted, and there’s a real deficit in Central Otago."
While she was glad to offer outreach care, Dr Paterson hoped it would encourage other agencies to fill the gap.
"The more we can get access to people, rather than trying to make people come to us, then the more we can break down those barriers.
"We’d like to not be needed."
