Latest update May 12th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 10, 2015 News
Reiterating the need for women between the ages of 25 and 49 to ensure that they are screened as soon as
possible, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) yesterday announced plans for a series of outreaches aimed at promoting Visual Inspection Using Acetic Acid (VIA) testing.
GPHC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is gearing to undertake the initiative, which will focus primarily on women who are sexually active, to commemorate Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
In a statement issued yesterday, the GPHC said that it will be hosting several outreach programmes in an effort to encourage women to get screened for cervical cancer.
Over the years both the GPHC and the Health Ministry have held a number of similar programmes which entailed employees performing VIA testing on location where such outreaches were held.
These services have seen many seeking to be tested and this year a similar situation is expected.
Medex of the VIA Clinic at the GPHC, Lorlene Ramsundar, has disclosed that this year organisations with more women will be targeted. She said that such places include Transport and Harbours Department, Lifeline Ministries, Restoration Ministries and several others.
She stressed that VIA testing is a very simple procedure which is pain free and at no cost to those being tested. She went on to explain that “We apply vinegar to the mouth of the cervix, and after one minute the person would have the result which will determine if they have to get treated or if we need to run more tests or if they do not require treatment.”
The medex emphasized too that early detection is vital and encouraged persons between the ages of 25 and 49 who are sexually active in particular to get screened as soon as possible, especially if they have never been tested.
Ramsundar underscored that getting screened can in fact help to save the lives of many and noted that from 2009 to present the VIA Clinic has detected numerous cervical cancer cases most of which were successfully treated.
According to her, the feedback from women who were screened and treated thus far has been very positive. She had informed too that persons have lauded both GPHC and the Ministry of Health for providing such services to them which they may not have been able to afford otherwise.
She said, “We have been encouraging women who come, to tell others to come and get checked and the response has been overwhelming.”
The medex further highlighted that more and more women are recognising the importance of getting themselves tested but stated that more education programmes on television and radio would be useful for women who may not know the importance of getting a VIA test done.
Cervical cancer ranks as the main type of cancer diagnosed and reported in Guyanese females hence key emphasis has been placed on combating the disease. It is largely preventable due to cervical screening and the HPV vaccination.
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