Cervical Cancer testing for Region Eight’s health centres – Min. Cummings

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, February 7, 2018.

Residents of Region Eight – Potaro/Siparuni will soon to benefit from the introduction of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) testing for pre-cancerous cells, according to Minister within the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Dr. Karen Cummings.  This facility is readily available in all other regions, except Region Eight.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings (centre).

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has launched a countrywide campaign in an effort to curtail the damning effects of cervical cancer and to heighten awareness of this national issue.

The three-pronged campaign is conducted under the theme “prevent cervical cancer, get screened today.”  The main steps being promoted to curtail the disease are VIA testing (visual inspection with acetic acid), Pap smear testing (Papanicolaou smear) and HPV (Human papillomavirus) vaccines.

Additionally, the Minister noted that “this year, we are striving for a healthier nation”.

In an interview with the Department of Public Information(DPI), the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Brigadier George Lewis (Ret’d), said the institution is pleased to be collaborating with the MoPH, the Giving Hope Foundation and the Cancer Institute of Guyana among other foundations and organisations, to raise awareness of cervical cancer countrywide.

“Cervical cancer is detrimental to health and there is a need for greater awareness so that persons can work to ensure that they prevent themselves from getting cervical cancer through early detection and testing and if they contract cancer that they can be treated their life be saved,” Lewis said.

Currently, VIA testing is available at Mabaruma Hospital, Charity and Suddie Hospital, West Demerara Regional Hospital, Leonora Cottage Hospital, Georgetown Public Hospital, Campbellville Health Centre, Dorothy Bailey Health Centre and the National Care and Treatment Centre (NCTC), Mahaicony Hospital, Skeldon Hospital, New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, Bartica Regional Hospital, Lethem Hospital, Linden Hospital and Wismar Hospital.

Chief Executive Officer, GPHC, Brigadier George Lewis (Ret’d) on the Cervical Cancer Awareness walk.

 

By: Nateshia Isaacs

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