INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Countries need to expand vaccination, screening, detection and treatment services
Kathmandu, September 6
World Health Organisation urged
countries in its South-East Asia Region to accelerate efforts to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.
Cervical cancer is a major public health
In 2018, an estimated 158,000 new cases and 95,766 deaths were reported due to cervical cancer, which is the third most common type of
cancer.
Addressing cancer risk factors and reducing its prevalence have been a regional flagship priority since 2014.
All countries in the
South-East Asia Region are taking measures for screening and treatment of pre-cancers
Four countries in the region — Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand — have introduced human papilloma virus vaccine nationwide,
state a press release issued by World Health Organisation.
&Countries need to expand vaccination, screening, detection and treatment
services for everyone, everywhere to address the growing problem of cervical cancer,& said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director of WHO
South-East Asia, at the seventy second session of WHO Regional Committee in Delhi.
&We need to scale up both our capacities and quality for
screening, treatment services and palliative care,& the regional director said.
Vaccination against human papilloma virus, screening and
treatment of pre-cancer, early detection, and prompt treatment of early invasive cancers and palliative care are proven effective strategies
to address cervical cancer.
Member countries are working towards achieving interim global targets — 90 per cent girls fully vaccinated
with human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine by 15 years of age; 70 per cent women screened with a high-precision test between 35 and 45 years
of age, and 90 per cent women identified with the cervical disease receive treatment and care by 2030.
The regional director said there was
need to strengthen national cervical cancer control plans, including appropriate strategies and guidelines for immunisation, screening,
treatment and care, including palliative care.
&It is necessary to include these services in the essential service packages for universal
health coverage to meet the targets,& Khetrapal Singh said.
WHO is prioritising cervical cancer elimination as worldwide cervical cancer
remains one of the gravest threats to women lives.
WHO South-East Asia Region comprises 11 Member States — Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Democratic People Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.
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to eliminate cervical cancer& appeared first on The Himalayan Times.
