-early detection, prevention the target, Health Minister says

MINISTER of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, recently said that the allocation of some $3.8 billion for a targeted cervical cancer programme will see an increase in early detection and preventative action for women across the country.

The minister made this disclosure during an episode of Budget in Focus 2024, where he dissected some of the major benefits that will come from the overall $129.8 billion that was set aside in this year’s budget for Guyana’s healthcare sector.

During the presentation of the National 2024 Budget, Senior Minister within the office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh had stated that in this year’s budget, the cervical cancer screening programme will be expanding its services to include HPV testing for all women between the ages of 35 and 45.

In this regard, the finance minister said that $3.8 billion has been allocated as a specific intervention to ramp up capabilities to detect and fight against cervical cancer.

Against this backdrop, the health minister indicated that this is part of the government’s intention to expand the work it has been doing in the areas of women’s health and cancer screening for women in Guyana.

The two most prevalent cancers among women are breast cancer and cervical cancer and as such the government wants to address both, he informed viewers.

“Now with cervical cancer you can actually prevent it. Cervical cancer is actually caused by a virus and if we immunize persons then they wouldn’t get the cancer. So, part of this programme that we would be doing is to ensure that we’re able to give people this vaccine to prevent cervical cancer,” he said.
Further to this, Dr Anthony said that the ministry wants to start this immunization programme in schools and he later noted that a single-dose vaccine can be administered to children between the ages of six and nine years old.

For those who are older (16 years to 45 years) two doses can be administered at an interval of six months. Those two doses would help to prevent cervical cancer.

Additionally, the health minister said that the second phase of the programme focuses on increasing screening, which he noted can be done via three methods: VIA method (Visual inspection with acetic acid), and pap smears and HPV testing which is relatively expensive.

Giving a breakdown, he indicated that the first two tests can detect whether or not the cervix has abnormal cells and if that is discovered intervention can be done using cryotherapy to prevent cervical cancer from developing.

He went on to explain that the HPV test is very effective and would be able to detect whether or not the person has cervical cancer. They can then receive the necessary treatment.

“Right now, in the private sector, HPV test is going to be about $25,000 and what we have in the budget is a programme to ensure we can give people access to HPV testing and we would be giving them a voucher and they could go to the private sector, to a lab and be able to access this type of test,” the minister said.

Further to this, he expressed that by doing mass testing, they will be able to identify persons who might have early stages of cancer and as a result can take action sooner.

He expressed: “I think that is what is important. So, with the work that we’re doing now, I think we can see over time a significant reduction in people getting cervical cancer.”

<<