Ten thousand women have already been screened for cervical cancer at various screening sites throughout the country while the Health Ministry since October last has been promoting breast and cervical cancer awareness.
And the ministry has now joined other international health organisations to observe Cervical Cancer awareness month during January, a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.
Meanwhile in an effort to continuously expand the Visual Inspection using Acetic Acid (VIA) programme, the ministry on Friday received US$15,000 worth of medical supplies and equipment from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) for the execution of VIA examinations, particularly outside of the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran indicated that PAHO’s contribution will be used to expand the VIA programme into the various regions.
He noted that since the programme started it has been beneficial to Guyanese women, as a result of the ‘single visit approach’ tactic by the ministry. This approach gives women the opportunity to be screened, diagnosed and treated in one visit.
Dr. Ramsaran said that a previous health report had indicated that women in hinterland communities were mostly affected by cervical cancer and so the ministry took the VIA service into those communities.
PAHO/WHO representative Beverley Barnette expressed satisfaction with the efforts by the Health Ministry in its VIA programme, particularly the use of the single visit approach.
The ministry presented certificates of recognition to the VIA clinics at the GPH and the Dorothy Bailey Health Centre for achieving high standards and the targets set, GINA added.
