– a national lifesaving effort for women

IN a powerful response to the World Health Organisation’s call for the global elimination of cervical cancer by 2030, Guyana’s Ministry of Health has embarked on an ambitious plan to tackle one of the most pressing health threats facing the nation’s women.
Launched in 2024, the programme is focused on prevention, early detection, and treatment of cervical cancer, the second most common cancer affecting women in Guyana. At the heart of this strategy is HPV testing, which the Ministry believes is the cornerstone of eliminating the disease altogether.

Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV)—a common virus that most sexually active individuals are likely to contract at some point in their lives. While not all HPV infections lead to cancer, strains 16 and 18 are known to significantly increase the risk.
That’s why, according to Dr. Lachmie Lall, Director of the Chronic Disease Unit at the Ministry of Health, the Ministry’s approach goes beyond detecting the presence of the virus—it now also identifies the specific strain.
“We started this programme in 2024 to test, not just for the presence of the virus, but the strain of the virus among our population to see who is more at risk of developing cervical cancer,” she shared during a recent episode of Health Matters.
A population analysis conducted by the Ministry found that approximately 211,000 women between the ages of 21 and 65 in Guyana are eligible for HPV testing. These figures highlight the magnitude of the task ahead, but the Ministry remains committed.

Even though the programme only began halfway through 2024, more than 12,000 women were screened by the end of the year. The growing public response has been encouraging.
“On the second to last day of the year, we saw a lot of women flocking to facilities to get the test done,” Dr. Lall noted. “Given that, we decided the programme will continue into 2025 because we want to reach all those eligible women.”

FROM TEST TO TREATMENT
The HPV test, which takes just five to ten minutes, is the first step. Women who test positive undergo a follow-up vaginal examination to detect any changes on the cervix.
“If there are no changes, we encourage women to return in two to five years for another test,” Dr. Lall explained. “If there are visible changes, we discuss treatment options like cryotherapy—a procedure that freezes and removes the abnormal cells.”
In more serious cases, women may be referred for LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure), a more advanced treatment to remove cancerous tissue.
To make the screening as accessible as possible, cervical cancer vouchers are now available at all health centres, hospitals, and health facilities nationwide. The Ministry has also distributed vouchers through other government ministries, NGOs, and community-based organisations conducting outreach programmes.
“We’ve had more providers come on board. Last year we had five labs doing HPV testing; this year we have eight,” Dr. Lall said. “With more providers and more vouchers available, we hope to reach an even bigger target in 2025.”

NATIONAL MOVEMENT FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH
The Ministry’s efforts represent more than a public health programme—they are part of a national movement to protect women, empower communities, and ultimately eliminate a disease that has taken too many lives.
Women are encouraged to get tested, especially those between the ages of 21 to 65, and to do so outside of menstruation for best results. Early screening is key—it allows for the detection of precancerous lesions, increasing the chances of early and effective treatment.
In Guyana, the fight to eliminate cervical cancer has begun—and with continued awareness, testing, and treatment, the vision of a cervical cancer-free future by 2030 could very well become a reality.