–pushes accelerated HPV vaccination drive

By Feona Morrison
THE Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, unveiled a comprehensive and inclusive proposal on Tuesday to guide the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health issue.

Dr. Anthony divulged this information while inaugurating an HPV Scientific Conference at the Pegasus Corporate Suites in Georgetown. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is linked to the development of cervical cancer. The government of Guyana intends to enhance vaccination efforts and offer complimentary virus testing.

Dr. Anthony highlighted Guyana’s remarkable vaccination rate for children, ranging from 98 to 100 percent. However, the same cannot be said for HPV vaccination, as Guyana is positioned at the bottom of the ranking.

Dr. Anthony observed that while cervical cancer is no longer as lethal as it was a century ago, it remains the second highest cause of cancer-related fatalities among women in Guyana.

However, he underscored the preventability of HPV through affordable vaccines available via the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) Strategic Fund.

The Health Minister added: “But think about it, if somebody actually got cancer; what’s it costing the country? Because we have to get that person to the hospital. You’ll also have to do some expensive surgery; you’ll probably have to go through radiation and biological therapy. That’s quite expensive. At the moment, we don’t have that in the country, so we support those patients to go abroad and it costs a lot of money. It’s a fraction of the cost if you have to get a vaccine.”

Minister Anthony came to the conclusion that, economically speaking, vaccinations against cervical cancer are “much better” than treating cases of the disease.

Additionally, he alluded to the fact that women diagnosed with cervical cancer may experience increased susceptibility to mental health concerns, suggesting that uncertainty about the prognosis is a significant concern. In relation to immunisations, the Health Minister announced that the ministry will focus on females aged five to 15 and 16 to 45 as their target demographic. Based on his statements, males, both boys and men, will also be administered vaccinations, as studies have indicated their efficacy in preventing various types of cancer. He asserted that the ministry is quite knowledgeable on how to administer vaccines, stating, “We’re not short. In every region, in very village, we have people trained to administer vaccines.”

Dr. Anthony reported, in December 2023, that despite the availability of HPV vaccinations in Guyana for over 11 years, the vaccination rate remains strikingly low.

He expressed his concern and stated his hope that the ministry’s comprehensive awareness campaign will motivate a greater number of individuals to receive the vaccine in 2024.

The Ministry of Health provides free HPV vaccines at its health centres and immunisation centres. Given the unavailability of HPV testing in public settings, individuals seeking to get tested will be required to incur a cost of approximately $25,000 for private testing.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that, with 604,000 new cases in 2020, cervical cancer ranks fourth among all cancers that affect women worldwide.

Out of the 342,000 cervical cancer-related deaths, 90 per cent happened in low- and middle-income nations, the organisation highlighted. It also pointed out that these statistics represent significant disparities brought on by social and economic factors, lack of access to national HPV vaccination programmes, and cervical screening and treatment facilities.

The Ministry of Health, in partnership with PAHO/WHO, is hosting the HPV Scientific Conference, which is set to conclude today.