Consultant advises…
THE expert overseeing the ongoing screening for cervical cancer at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) said, although it does not focus on diagnosis, it is important to prevention of the diseases.

A cross section of the women waiting to have their tests done at the VIA Clinic.

The biggest value of the exercise is identifying the pre-cancerous cells before they turn into cervical cancer, said Dr John Varello, the consultant physician with Jhpiego and Omni Med of the United States (U.S.), which organised the process in conjunction with the Ministry of Health.

The Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) and Single Visit Approach (SIA) is being utilised for the purpose.

He said VIA allows results of the test to be available within a few minutes as compared to the four to six weeks period needed for pap smear findings.

Varello said the SIA approach enables women patients to be sensitised, screened and treated on one visit.

Prior to what is currently being done, until October 16, screening through the VIA and SIA methods were being done at the VIA Clinic, in the Maternity Unit of GPH.

Dr John Varello

For this year, so far, 2,239 women underwent tests in Guyana, 394 of whom tested positive for pre-cancerous cells and seven are suspected cervical cancer patients, Varello reported.

Although the VIA Clinic was not established until January this year, work with cervical cancer has been going on since 2000.

Awareness
However, the present procedure was undertaken to raise awareness of cervical cancer and the dangers of the ailment that affects the cervix in the female reproductive system.

The cervix is the lower portion of the uterus that connects it to the upper vagina.

In the early stages of cervical cancer, there usually are no symptoms which only begin to appear as the disease advances, invading deeper into the cervix and surrounding tissue when victims may experience abnormal vaginal bleeding, including post-coital bleeding; pelvic pain and heavy vaginal discharge.

Varello, who also facilitated a week of training for the two medex manning the VIA Clinic, explained that Guyana has one of the highest cervical cancer rates and the current undertaking will greatly reduce the incidence.

“Because Guyana’s cervical cancer rate is high, it is no surprise that we have seen many women testing positive for having pre-cancerous cells,” he said.

Varello encouraged more women to ascertain their status.

“It is nothing to be scared about. Simply screen and, if the tests are positive, the treatment is just as simple,” he assured.

Varello said the curative treatment has seen 90 per cent success.

One of the two medexes at the VIA clinic, Ms. Zeta Alberts said particularly those who are sexually active should take the test.

She said, regardless of the age, a person living with HIV is also tested because the individual is a higher cervical cancer risk.

Treatment
Alberts said those who test negative should test again in five years and who test positive are put on treatment immediately.

However, persons living with HIV, who test negative are asked to test repeatedly for three consecutive years while others who prove positive are treated and advised to also test over the same period.

“No woman is ever turned away,” Alberts said.

The other medex, Ms. Lorlene Ramsundar reiterated that and said women who attend the clinic are given educational talks at 08:00 h before the actual screening.

“The educational talks are to make them aware and hopefully have the women, in turn, spread the word around,” she said.

Several beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the service, among them a 42-year-old and a 63-year-old, among 27 screened yesterday.