The Ministry of Health wants to eliminate cervical cancer by 2023 and according
to Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph, the ministry has a three-pronged approach to
achieve this goal. Cervical cancer deaths rank only third behind colon cancer and
breast cancer in women.
Speaking at a high-level engagement in Washington D.C., Sir Molwyn presented a
paper Acceleration Actions for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer – the Antigua
and Barbuda Experience, which details data on the status of the disease in the
country, as well as a plan of action on how it may be eliminated, by the end of the
decade.
“We are aware that cervical cancer is preventable and curable through: • HPV
vaccination • Cervical Screening • Early identification and treatment of
precancerous diseases and early-stage cervical cancer,” he stated.
Sir Molwyn said cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women
in Antigua and Barbuda and the government has decided to implement the World
Health Organisation’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer as a public
health problem.
“Antigua and Barbuda established the National Cervical Cancer Taskforce to
oversee the implementation of the WHO strategy for the elimination of cervical
cancer through the achievement of the following 3 targets by 2030: 1. 90% of girls
fully vaccinated with HPV vaccine by age 15 years 2. 70% of women are screened
with a high-performance test, by 35 years of age and again by 45 years of age, and,
3. 90% of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment,” he
announced.
There were, however, challenges as identified by the action plan presented by the
minister. Among them was insufficient knowledge and awareness of vaccination as
well as a noticeable rise in vaccine hesitancy observed since the COVID-19
pandemic.
Two ways in which this may be overcome are; scaling up an HPV screening
program with special emphasis on high-risk groups, such as women living with
HIV, and secondly, the development of programs geared towards increasing HPV
vaccine uptake through community engagement and activities geared toward
improving health literacy.
Sir Molwyn noted that Antigua and Barbuda has been a pioneer in this fight to
eliminate cervical cancer and that it is committed to achieving the 2030 elimination
goal. “Antigua and Barbuda has led in the Caribbean region, by being the first
country to be part of the training, based on the WHO’s Manual for the
Implementation of HPV testing, as well as becoming the first country procuring
HPV tests through PAHO’s Strategic Fund. These actions reflect the strong
political will, commitment, and vision to lead the region toward the elimination of
cervical cancer,” Sir Molwyn declared.
