Guyana records 63 cervical cancer deaths annually – NCD commission

…says HPV literacy key to eliminating cervical cancer by 2050

The Presidential Commission on the Prevention and Control of the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) has called for greater public awareness and expanded access to prevention and treatment services as Guyana observes International HPV Awareness Day on Wednesday.
In a message marking the occasion, the Commission said building an HPV-literate population is critical to eliminating cervical cancer by 2050. It commended the Ministry of Health and the Government for advancing policies focused on testing, vaccination and treatment of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the primary cause of cervical cancer.
HPV refers to a group of more than 200 related viruses; most are harmless, but several high-risk strains can lead to cancer. The Commission highlighted HPV 16 and HPV 18 as the main cancer-causing types prevalent in Guyana. More than 90 per cent of cervical cancers are linked to a small number of high-risk HPV strains.
According to the commission, cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in Guyana. Approximately 121 new cases and 63 deaths are recorded annually. The disease disproportionately affects women between the ages of 15 and 44. With an incidence rate exceeding 20 per 100,000 women, Guyana’s rate is considered high. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines elimination as reducing incidence to below four per 100,000 women.
The Commission stressed that widespread testing is essential. It welcomed the Government’s policy of offering free HPV testing and underscored the importance of maintaining a national register of HPV-positive individuals to allow monitoring and early intervention. The national target is to ensure that at least 70 per cent of women are screened by age 35 and again by age 45 by 2030.
Vaccination remains a central pillar of prevention. The HPV vaccine was introduced in Guyana in 2010 for girls aged nine to 11. The programme has since expanded to include boys and now targets children between the ages of nine and 15. The goal is to vaccinate 90 per cent of girls before age 15 by 2030. Current coverage exceeds 60 per cent, according to the Ministry of Health.
The commission noted that Guyana utilises the Gardasil 9 vaccine, which protects against nine HPV strains, including those most associated with cervical cancer, adding that Guyana is among a limited number of developing countries using this vaccine.
Globally, the uptake of HPV vaccines has increased significantly. In 2017, 71 countries had introduced HPV vaccines into national programmes. By the end of 2023, 143 countries had done so. However, coverage remains uneven. High Human Development Index (HDI) countries report vaccination rates ranging from 40 to 77 per cent, compared to significantly lower rates in regions such as Africa, South-East Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Commission also pointed to progress in treatment services. Guyana currently offers visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), chemotherapy, radiotherapy and plans for a brachytherapy centre. The national objective is for 90 per cent of women diagnosed with cervical cancer to access treatment and care by 2030.
Internationally, cervical cancer accounts for approximately 600,000 new cases and 338,800 deaths each year. According to global data, low-HDI countries experience incidence rates three times higher and mortality rates six times higher than high-HDI countries. Asia accounts for 60 per cent of global cervical cancer cases and 57.3 per cent of deaths, followed by Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
In November 2020, WHO Member States adopted the Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination. The strategy sets “90-70-90” targets to be achieved by 2030: 90 per cent of girls vaccinated by age 15; 70 per cent of women screened by ages 35 and 45; and 90 per cent of women with pre-cancer treated and invasive cancer managed.
The Government, led by President Dr Irfaan Ali, has committed to positioning the country to eliminate cervical cancer by 2050.
The Commission also highlighted Guyana’s advocacy at the international level, pointing out that on March 13, the Commission will join Guyana’s Permanent Mission in Geneva and other diplomatic missions to advocate for accelerating global elimination to 2080, ahead of the current WHO timeline of 2120.
Drawing parallels with the eradication of smallpox, the Commission said coordinated global action, mass vaccination and sustained political commitment can achieve similar success in eliminating cervical cancer. Smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980 following a global vaccination campaign led by the WHO.
The Commission urged expanded investment in education, routine screening, vaccination access and quality treatment services. It also called for integrating HPV awareness into school curricula and faith-based outreach to ensure broad public engagement.
According to the Commission, eliminating cervical cancer would mark the first time a cancer has been ended globally. Achieving that milestone, it said, requires sustained national, regional and international commitment, with prevention and early detection at the forefront of public health strategy.