Programs launched to aware people about cervical cancer

PESHAWAR, Apr 07 (APP): Secretary Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shahid Ullah Khan, has said that the government has launched comprehensive programs to aware people about control cervical cancer that is an emerging public health challenge affecting 162 countries worldwide including Pakistan.

Chairing a meeting, he highlighted the gravity of the situation and saying that cervical cancer that is primarily caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, an estimated 140,000 women are currently at risk of HPV infection, he said and added that if left untreated the disease can progress to precancerous lesions and invasive cervical carcinoma.

He said that disease carries a high mortality rate with nearly two out of every three diagnosed women succumbing to the illness due to late detection, limited screening coverage and lack of awareness. “Cervical cancer is preventable and treatable if detected early, yet it continues to claim lives due to gaps in timely diagnosis and vaccination,” he said.

He told that provincial health department has initiated a comprehensive, multi-pronged prevention program to focus community awareness campaigns and educate women and families about risk factors, symptoms and the importance of regular screening.

The meeting was attended by the Director General Health, public health experts, and representatives from various departments. International development partners including UNICEF, Gavi, the World Health Organization (WHO), Jhpiego, Acacus, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation also participated, along with officials from national and provincial Health Emergency Operations Centers.

Participants also reviewed the roadmap for launching a province-wide cervical cancer control campaign aligned with global strategies for the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem.