THE Ministry of Health yesterday launched its cervical cancer awareness and prevention programme at the East La Penitence Health Centre in Georgetown. The programme aims at combating cervical cancer and making the Guyanese population more aware of the risk factors relative to the growing issues of the disease.
Members of South Georgetown communities and school children from the East La Penitence Primary School were well represented at the launching ceremony. 
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women, and the Health Ministry has been increasing awareness of this deadly disease, thus resulting in more women seeking screening, diagnosis and treatment.
The Health Ministry has also introduced the Visual Inspection using Acetic Acid (VIA) methodology free of cost, to encourage women to check on their health status, as early detection can potentially save lives.
The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is to be administered to young girls between 11 and 13 years old to prevent their developing cervical cancer.
In his address at the launching ceremony, Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran said that all studies show the immunization effect is long-lasting; as such, the Health Ministry is hoping to capture young women before they become sexually active, particularly since studies in Guyana indicate that sexual activity can start from as early as 13 years old.
Importantly, the vaccine works best before exposure to the HPV virus, and also prevents the occurrence of other illnesses, including genital and anal warts, because those are also caused by the HPV virus.
Minister Ramsaran said that, like every other medical drug, the HPV vaccine does have it side effects; but after studies were carried out, measures have been put in place to deal with those side effects. He noted that the side effects of this vaccine can do no serious harm to an individual.
During a recent interview, Minister Ramsaran had said that the vaccination programme is a long-term investment for the country’s people.  
“This is a long-term investment… The cost of the vaccine and logistics make it one of the most costly vaccines in the vaccination programme,” Minister Ramsaran stated. However, the cost has been reduced due to support from the Health Ministry’s technical supporters.
The vaccination programme will be rolled out with 20,400 doses being administered in three doses over a six-month period at primary schools and health centres in Regions 3, 4, 5 and 6.
It was also recently announced that the Government of Guyana is making Gardasil available in the vaccination programme. Gardasil is a vaccine that guards against cervical cancer and genital warts, and has shown effectiveness in protecting against cancers of the anus, vagina and vulva.
“This is a new vaccine being introduced. We already have a robust immunization programme, with some 16 vaccines being available in our public health system to vaccinate our kids against preventable childhood diseases, and this is an addition,” he said.
Minister Ramsaran explained that the vaccine against HPV is aimed particularly at protecting the health of young women between 11 and 13 years old. The effectiveness of the vaccine will be seen several years hence, when the targeted age group would have reflected a reduction in the number of cervical cancer cases. 
The introduction of the HPV vaccine in Guyana coincides with international observances for cervical cancer awareness in January. This year will see the Ministry’s Health Promotion Unit expanding its activities with visits to schools, lectures, and medical outreaches with emphasis on providing VIA screening.
“We are fanning out the VIA programme into the regions. This programme has resulted in more women buying into the programme, and the MOH has been experiencing less cultural hiccups/taboos against women’s involvement,” Minister Ramsaran disclosed.
The VIA, introduced in 2007, ensures early detection of, and treatment for, cervical cancer. Since 2007, over 25 sites have been established at various health institutions throughout the country, as Guyana has a high percentage of cervical cancer cases.  Emphasis is placed on the single-visit approach, in which women are screened, diagnosed and treated for cervical cancer in one visit; and this procedure has resulted in over 10,000 women accessing the service.
“Cervical cancer is preventable. It is one of the few cancers that we know can be prevented. Notwithstanding, worldwide it is the second most common cancer in women. Each year it affects 500,000 women and causes 260,000 deaths.” This is according to Country Representative of the Pan-American Health Organization, Dr. Beverley Barnett, who also spoke at the ceremony.
Dr. Barnett said that the screening by pap smear or VIA aims to detect and treat pre-cancerous lesions in the cervix, so that the cancer doesn’t develop.     She said that studies have shown very close links between persistent infection with certain types of human papilloma viruses (HPV) and cervical cancer, so the efforts at preventing the disease now include preventing those types of HPV infection.
Dr. Barnett highlighted that, in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the prevalence of HPV varies by country and population.
“A study in selected countries in Latin America found that among women with normal Pap smear, the average prevalence of HPV was 16%; among women with low-grade cervical abnormalities, the average prevalence was 75.6%; and among women with high-grade cervical abnormalities, the average prevalence was 83.9%. Among women with cervical cancer, the proportion with detectable HPV approached 100%.”
She went on to explain that in the region of the Americas, it is estimated that 86,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, and 38,000 will die of the disease.
There is significant variation of HPV burden in the region, related to access to screening and curative services. As you would imagine, where the access is greatest the burden is least. For example, in the USA, the proportion of cancer deaths in women due to cervical cancer is 2.5%, (but) in Haiti it is 49%.
HPV is transmitted primarily through sexual contact, so prevention methods include abstinence; safer sex using barrier methods such as condoms; and having a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner.