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'Gynepunks' DIY Gynecology For Underserved Women

New submitter Alien7 sends an article about a group of bio-hackers who are out to bring DIY gynecological medicine to women who don't have easy access to it. Under the name GynePunks, they're assembling an arsenal of open-source tools for DIY diagnosis and first-aid care—centrifuges made from old hard drive motors; microscopes from deconstructed webcams; homemade incubators; and 3D printable speculums. ... So far the work is largely focused on diagnosis, and members of the collective are quick to note that what they’re creating is far from a comprehensive solution. It’s limited by some obvious factors—access to materials, a place to put them together, and the time to do it. But where the infrastructure does exist, and people are motivated to do so, it is very possible to establish some useful alternatives for self-care. As an example, Klau pointed to a pilot vinegar test program that’s lowered cervical cancer deaths by some 31 percent among poor women in Mumbai’s slums.

4 of 59 comments (clear)

  1. How things have changed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Not that long ago we would have an article about using a few lenses from old telescopes and microscopes to make a webcam.

  2. Re:Ambitious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    It should be obvious.

    Killing is easy. Keeping people healthy takes a bit more work.

  3. What? by ScentCone · · Score: 4, Insightful

    We're worried about people being able to afford a speculum (they cost about $0.90 each at retail) so we're ... suggesting they just fire up their handy 3D printer?

    --
    Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
  4. Title is confusing by fey000 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Does it say un-deserved or under-served?

    This is like the website address for Expert's exchange.