The Health Minster wants a more concerted effort to fight cervical cancer which he
reported is on the rise in Antigua and Barbuda.
Health Minister, Sir Molwyn Joseph, reported to his Cabinet colleagues that
cervical cancer has doubled in the last two years.
He explained that the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is solely responsible for this
increase in a cancer that affects women in the society. It was noted that HPV is
spread through sexual contact and that the disease strikes at women, causes cancer,
and can be prevented by administering a vaccine before girls begin engaging in
sexual relations.
The Minister pointed out that vaccination, treatment and screening are the three
steps that can be taken to reduce the disease significantly, and it can be eliminated
from the Antigua and Barbuda Population in four years.
A Ministry of Health position paper noted it is concerned about the high incidence
of cervical cancer and the high number of cervical cancer-related deaths globally
and locally. Data show that in Antigua and Barbuda, cervical cancer is the 2nd
leading cancer in women and the 3rd leading cause of death from cancer in
women.
“We are aware that cervical cancer is preventable and curable if detected early and
adequately treated. Therefore, the implementation of WHO’s global strategy to
eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem gives hope that by 2030,
cervical cancer and its direct and indirect impact on women, their families and
countries will be a thing of the past,” the document stated.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Health launched the National HPV Vaccination
Program in 2018 and in September 2022, the National Cervical HPV Testing
Program, piloted in 5 clinics. Over the past 6 months, 1,571 women 30-49 years
were screened, superseding the 1,500 target and representing an approximate 100%
increase in the number of women normally screened yearly in primary healthcare.
The programme will be scaled up next month with the official launch of a national
set of guidelines to combat the incidence of the HPV among women in the society.
The Minister is also voicing concerns over what he has reported as a crisis in
kidney failures in the country. This he noted, is based on the number of adults
whose kidneys have begun to fail them due to hypertension and diabetes. He again
reiterated the need for a balanced diet, a reduction in salty foods and sugary drinks,
and the need for exercise. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the major cause
of death and amputations among the Antigua and Barbuda adult population.
Changing diet and an active lifestyle are two methods by which these dreaded
diseases can be avoided.
