Get tested for HPV – Health Minister to women as $38M health centre is commissioned

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony has issued an appeal for women to get tested for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause different types of cancer.
Explaining that early detection can prevent problems down the line, Minister Dr Anthony has declared, “Our aim is that we must not have any child (dying) at childbirth, and we must not have any mother dying at childbirth. For us to achieve that, what we need is for people to come to the clinic.”
According to Dr Anthony, even though health centres have been established in communities and those have trained staff members, mothers do not visit those centres during their first three months of pregnancy.
“Sometimes even in the second three months you don’t see them coming, and then, in the last three months, then they show up; and then, sometimes when you check, they have some issue or the other that you have to deal with. We are happy even when you come in the last three months, but we want you to come and make sure that you take advantage of the full spectrum of services that you can have,” Dr Anthony has appealed.

He said the goal is to ensure that every pregnant mother gets an ultrasound. This is, “So that we can see what is going on with the child.”
He pointed out that health centres also cater to the young child by providing health care.
“So we have vaccines that we will give for the first eighteen months. Eighteen different types of vaccines (that) can protect children. We are the only country in this part of the world that is giving so many vacancies,” he boasted.
“Long ago, it never used to be like this, you used to get two vaccines; but now we are giving them vaccines to protect them from eighteen different diseases,” he explained.
He noted that cancers have been one of the top causes of deaths in women, with breast cancer and cervical cancer being the top two such causes. Cervical cancer can be prevented, the minister has assured.
“This cancer is caused by a virus, but we have a vaccine. The Government of Guyana invested in buying this vaccine. We want to make sure that every child between 9 years and 15 years can get this vaccine,” he disclosed.
The minister has pointed out that the HPV vaccine prevents the development of cervical cancer.
“We are now offering for the first time a test called an HPV test. If you have to go and do it privately, it would cost more than $8000. We have negotiated the price with the providers, and they have all agreed that they will do it for the Government for $8000. We have a voucher available (in this regard),” Minister Dr Anthony has explained.
The free HPV tests are available to women between the ages of 21 years and 65 years old.
“Go and get your test…we can start doing something about it early, or you can wait until the cancer develops and there are complications and we can’t do much about it. Please make use of this test,” he appealed.
Dr Anthony has said that special arrangements can be made for the blood samples to be taken at the new Chesney Health Centre and sent to the lab.
The Chesney Health Centre was commissioned on Saturday, and the minister was speaking at that commissioning ceremony. The $38M facility is expected to bring much-needed relief to residents who previously had had to travel long distances to receive medical services. The new health centre is fully equipped with a pharmacy, vaccination room, doctors’ consultation room, nurses’ station, kitchen, and washroom facilities, among other amenities, ensuring that comprehensive healthcare is delivered efficiently.
The new health centre at Chesney is expected to serve the 2300 houses in that housing scheme, along with persons at Topoo in Albion.
Dr Anthony also took the opportunity to highlight the importance of this facility in the Health Ministry’s efforts to enhance healthcare delivery across the country.
This is the third such facility to be commissioned in Region Six for the year.
The Chesney Health Centre will be staffed by a Medex and several nurses, who will provide care for patients with a range of medical needs, including chronic illnesses. The new facility is expected to significantly reduce the burden on larger regional hospitals by offering essential services close to home for many residents. (G4)