Dear Editor,
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. The Presidential Commission on the Prevention and Control of the NCDs commend the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Health for leading an aggressive fight against Cervical cancer in Guyana.
The Commission is grateful for the significant increase in investment to fight against Cervical Cancer. The Commission is pleased to see that the elevation of the fight against Cervical Cancer. The Commission, however, believes that there is an urgent need to further expand and elevate the education and awareness program in the fight against Cervical Cancer in Guyana. We urge the Ministry of Health to learn from the tremendous work that was done with HIV and AIDS at the start of the 21st Century. For the first decade of this century, Guyana crafted and implemented an awareness and education program for HIV and AIDS that was globally recognized. The Commission believes that some of the same education and awareness strategies that Guyana used to spread HIV and AIDS literacy can be utilised for Cervical Cancer.
During this month, as we try to promote and spread awareness of Cervical Cancer, the Commission believes that the MOH should designate March 4th each year as National HPV and Cervical Cancer Testing Day that would start a dedicated week of testing across the country.
We urge that the MOH works with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to ensure that HPV and Cervical cancer Awareness programs are introduced in our schools, workplaces and in our sports clubs. We urge the MOH to work with the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to ensure every MP is a champion in the fight against HPV and Cervical Cancer. We urge the MOH to work with faith-based organisations to spread awareness and for every faith-based leader to be a champion in the fight.
The Commission would like to see more utilization of radio, TV, printed media, social media and banners and posters for spreading education and awareness. Every public building should have posters with HPV and Cervical cancer messaging.
Cervical cancer is the 2nd most prevalent cancer among women in Guyana and is a leading cause of death. Current estimates for Guyana indicate that approximately 121 women (about 15/100,000) are diagnosed with cervical cancer and a mortality rate of about 63 deaths annually.
Science has proven that Cervical Cancer is caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV is a sexually transmitted viral infection. Therefore, it is important for initiatives to prevent HPV infection. It is also important for Guyanese, both women and men, to know their HPV status. Every girl between the ages of 9 and 15 should be vaccinated. The Commission acknowledges and commends the MOH for its HPV testing program which was introduced some time ago.
In 2025, in an effort to expand access to HPV testing, introduced a $2.8 billion HPV voucher program for citizens to access testing in the private sector so that each Guyanese can know that HPV status. The intention is for more than 200,000 women between the ages of 21 and 65 to be tested by 2030. This was a good indicator of the Ministry’s commitment to ensure every
citizen is aware of his or her HPV-status. For women who are HPV-positive, they are at high risk for cervical cancer. Therefore, it is important for every woman to know her HPV-status.
Just as we did for HIV testing more than two decades ago, the MOH must explore opportunistic testing for women. For every clinic that a woman visits, she should be offered HPV testing, if she is not yet aware of her HPV-status. All women who are HPV-positive should also be tested for cervical cancer.
The Commission notes progress in the HPV vaccination Program. After a slow start, Guyana has made significant progress in vaccination for girls aged 9 to 15 years. The goal is for 90% girls aged 9 to 15 to be vaccinated by 2030. From all indication, Guyana now has exceeded 50% and should, therefore achieve 90% by 2030. While the Commission urges acceleration of the rate, the Commission is encouraged by the recent progress made in this regard.
Cervical cancer is preventable. We can stop cervical cancer. But we must work together. Every Guyanese child in school and every Guyanese adult must know that HPV is a cause of cervical cancer, must know his or her HPV status and every Guyanese woman must ensure they are tested for cervical cancer before age 35 and again by age 45. Let us work together with our local and global partners to ensure that Guyana becomes one of the earliest developing counties that have stopped cervical cancer.