WeCARE Humanitarian Medical Mission Brings Essential Health Care Services to Remote Southeast Asia Communities

WeCARE Mission Inc. is a self-funded, volunteer-led NGO committed to delivering essential healthcare to underserved communities in Southeast Asia. It is a grassroots effort made possible by many generous volunteers and donors.

In early June 2025, 26 dedicated volunteers from the WeCARE team in Australia, together with local partners in Vietnam and Cambodia, carried out a humanitarian medical mission. Their goal was to bring care and essential health care services to Vietnamese communities living in exile on Tonlé Sap Lake in Cambodia and to disadvantaged areas in Vietnam.

The mission began at a floating church and school in Kampong Luong village, Pursat Province, Cambodia. In this isolated and often overlooked community, the WeCARE medical team provided free consultations, medications, and essential supplies to every patient.

After two days in Pursat, the team moved on to Phum Thmey Village, Kampong Chhnang Province—a dry, rocky region where families relocated from floating homes now face life on land with no electricity or clean water.

The journey then continued to Kandal Province, home to two dedicated to educating children of Vietnamese descent—children who otherwise have no access to the local school system. There, the WeCARE team administered HPV vaccines and distributed gifts to over 100 young girls, sowing seeds of prevention and empowerment.

Following the Cambodia mission, several volunteers continued their journey into Vietnam, extending care to the highland provinces of Đắk Lắk and Đắk Nông. In Đắk Lắk, over 120 women were screened for cervical cancer, and more than 100 girls received the HPV vaccine. The team also conducted community education sessions promoting the importance of early detection and women’s health awareness.

This mission marked a milestone for WeCARE—The team was able to equip two GeneXpert® systems for cervical cancer screening and one treatment device for immediate on-site care. It was the first time PCR technology was used in the team's cervical cancer screening efforts. When a positive result was detected, on-site medical specialists could provide immediate evaluation and, where appropriate, instant treatment.

Cervical cancer screening is a core component of WeCARE’s women’s health initiative, and access to diagnostics significantly increases its reach and impact. The GeneXpert system proved to be an invaluable tool in the field. Each system can screen up to four patients per hour—a vital step in combating cervical cancer, now the fourth most common cancer among women globally after breast, lung, and colorectal cancers.¹

“This mission illustrates how the GeneXpert truly provides access to all in some of the most remote areas of the world,” said Dene Grindal, Senior Director Commercial HBDC SEA, Cepheid.

“The team would go further along the river to provide access to diagnostics to those who needed it. It was humbling,” Grindal added. “Stories like this demonstrate the far-winding reach that we have.  We traveled to islands with a population of about 30-40 people and were able to use the GeneXpert system in truly remote areas.”

Results from WeCARE’s 2025 Humanitarian Medical Mission:

• 329 women aged 30 to 50 were screened for cervical cancer
• 11 tested positive and received on-site evaluation and treatment by medical specialists
• 358 girls ages 9 to 15 received the Gardasil® 9 vaccine, offering them lifelong protection against cervical cancer with just a single dose
• Over 1 150 individuals received free medical consultations and medications
• 1 520 underprivileged households received care packages
• Additional support included wheelchairs and other assistance for special cases

Dr. Juliana Chong, Vice-Chairperson, WeCARE Mission, noted, “We are pleased to share that the WeCARE Mission 2025 has been successfully completed.”

“It was a meaningful and impactful journey, and we are deeply grateful for all the support and assistance in the lead-up as well as during the mission. We look forward to staying in touch and working together again in our 2026 mission," she added.

For a glimpse into the work that was done and the lives touched, watch the WeCARE 2025 Humanitarian Medical Mission video here.

Special Thanks to our dedicated, global partners at WeCARE Mission and Cepheid leaders: Steven Badman, Dene Grindal, Cathy Hassarati, Christy Tze, François Lamoury, Hoang Le, Jay Ong, Vincent Thuan Tran, and Gwynn Stevens. This work would not be possible without your tireless commitment and dedication to molecular diagnostics access – everywhere.