The Guyana Government aims to contribute to the global push to significantly reduce cervical cancer cases by 2030 and as such, parents are being encouraged to allow their girl children to get the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines.
This call was made by Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Friday when the Health Ministry launched its Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination.
That strategy speaks to the need for 90 per cent of girls to be fully vaccinated for HPV by the age of 15.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand speaking at the event
Manickchand emphasised that the vaccines were free of cost and that parents play a vital role in ensuring the lingering cervical cancer disease is erased from Guyana.
According to her, though there is a goal to reduce cervical cancer by 90 per cent, she foresees that if Guyanese publicise the need for the vaccine, especially among girls, there would be no cases of cervical cancer throughout Guyana by 2030.
In addition, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony alluded to some of the targets set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to significantly reduce cervical cancer cases by 2030.
This includes having 70 per cent of women screened by the age of 35, and again by age 45.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony speaking at the event
“By 2030, we hope to see a vast reduction of cervical cancer within Guyana, if we follow all the guidelines from the World Health Organisation we will certainly reach this number without a doubt.”
Dr Anthony added that part of the guidelines of the WHO was for women to receive early screenings and in doing its part, the Guyana Government would soon distribute self-testing kits.
“Early screenings must be done; early screenings will be beneficial for persons to detect signs of cancer and it enables them to prepare to combat it quickly in the early stages of the sickness.”
Officials at the launch
Further drawing reference from the significant reductions seen in other countries, he stated that other countries have implemented similar strategies and produced significant results.
“All the countries that have implemented strong policies, have demonstrated that they can defeat cervical cancer and if they can do it, I am sure that we can do it as well, we just have to implement the great strategies that we already have,” he stated.
Cervical cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus and can be prevented by taking the HPV vaccine.
