Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh’s announcement during the presentation of Budget 2024, that $3.8 billion has been allocated as a specific intervention to ramp up capabilities to detect and fight against cervical cancer, is phenomenal news for women.
More so, January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and to make this announcement during this month is also meaningful.
This type of cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women, according to the World Health Organization. Statistics from WHO show that an estimated 311,000 deaths worldwide are recorded as a result of Cervical Cancer.
To quote Minister Singh in his presentation of the $1.146 trillion Budget, themed “Staying the Course, Building Prosperity for All”: “Mr. Speaker, the cervical cancer screening programme will be expanding services to include HPV testing for all women between the ages of 35 and 45. Additionally, $3.8 billion has been allocated in this year’s budget as a specific intervention to ramp up capabilities to detect and fight against cervical cancer…Mr. Speaker, early detection of cervical cancer is important to reducing illness and death from the disease. In this regard, to encourage testing for cervical cancer, Government will provide a voucher of $8,000 for women between the ages of 21 (and) 65 to meet the cost of cervical cancer testing. This intervention will cost an estimated $2.8 billion.”
In our editorial of January 5, 2024 on the topic of cervical cancer, we stated that according to the WHO, lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver cancer are the most common types of cancer in men, while breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and thyroid cancer are the most common among women.
The WHO has pointed out that the cancer burden continues to grow globally, exerting tremendous physical, emotional and financial strain on individuals, families, communities and health systems. Many health systems in low- and middle-income countries are least prepared to manage this burden, and large numbers of cancer patients globally do not have access to timely quality diagnosis and treatment. However, according to WHO, in countries where health systems are strong, survival rates of many types of cancers are improving, thanks to accessible early detection, quality treatment, and survivorship care.
It should be noted that between 30 and 40 percent of cancer cases could be prevented, and one-third of cancer cases could be cured through early diagnoses and treatment.
In Guyana, cancer is one of the leading causes of death, and we, as guardians of our own destiny, should continue to make arduous efforts in our campaign to reduce the number of persons dying from the disease. For example, individuals could assist in the prevention of cancer by doing simple things, such as making sure they eat a healthy diet, engage in regular adequate physical activity, and overall maintain good health. Research has shown that physical inactivity is linked to breast and colon cancers. WHO’s Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health details how differing amounts and intensities of physical activity for all age groups can help reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including some cancers. It is also worthy to note that the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research has advised that cancer could be prevented if persons could be as lean as possible without becoming underweight; be physically active for at least thirty minutes each day; and avoid sugary drinks, among other things.
The three main cancers in Guyana are breast cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer. Cervical cancer is easily prevented through regular screening and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. Far too many women ignore the pre-testing option, and seek medical advice and treatment only when they begin to develop signs of illness. In many cases, indications of physical illness or signs of discomfort often suggest that the cancer is at an advanced stage. Persons should therefore be encouraged to have regular tests done, since pre-symptoms are not that visible. WHO estimates that cervical cancer could be the first cancer to be eliminated if 90 per cent of girls are vaccinated against HPV, 70 per cent of women are screened, and 90 per cent of women with cervical disease receive treatment.
We can never overstate the importance of having more public awareness and education campaigns about the disease, with the aim of changing lifestyles and getting persons to do regular testing so that treatment could be administered before the disease becomes life threatening. Now that budgetary help is available to women, this must be utilized, as early detection can save lives.
