On Friday, the Honourable Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand committed herself and the Ministry of Education to advancing the campaign to eliminate cervical cancer.
She made this commitment on Friday at launch of the Ministry of Health’s Elimination of Cervical Cancer Campaign and Action Plan. The Health Ministry’s cervical cancer elimination strategy plan was distributed to stakeholders during a ceremony at the Pegasus Corporate Suites.
Cervical Cancer is amongst the top three most fatal cancers in Guyana for women and it is preventable and, if detected early, treatable. While it affects women, it is primarily caused by the HPV virus which also affects men.
Key components of the action plan include intensive awareness campaigns targeting both students and the wider community, emphasizing the importance of vaccination and regular screening.
The HPV vaccine is available for children ages nine to 17 and adults ages 18 to 45. Going forward, the vaccination programme will be ramped up.
In line with the collaborative spirit of the campaign, the Ministry of Education pledges its full support to work hand in hand with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to achieve the shared goal of eliminating cervical cancer in Guyana.