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– Health MinisterIn recognition of the fact that the Human Papilloma Virus is one of the leading causes of cancer among women, the Ministry of Health has been working toward the introduction of vaccine. And it is the expectation of Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy,Jerseys NFL Wholesale China, that the vaccine will be introduced later this year.According to him, extensive studies have been conducted that demonstrate that the main HPV type in Guyana is consistent with the make-up of the vaccines that are presently available. He further revealed that there are currently two types of vaccines on the market that are marketed by Merck and Glaxo-Smith Kline (GSK). Together with technical support from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the Ministry of Health is presently considering which one of the vaccines would be most suitable to be introduced locally, the Minister divulged.Minister of Health, Dr Leslie RamsammyAccording to the World Health Organisation (WHO), HPV causes cervical cancer,http://www.footlockershop.us.com/Gel-atena-rf/, which is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. There are about 500,wholesale jerseys china,000 new cases and about 250,000 deaths due to cervical cancer each year. Eighty percent of cervical cancer deaths are in developing countries, the WHO has discovered. It has also been observed that although most infections with HPV cause no symptoms,NFL Jerseys Outlet, persistent genital HPV infection can cause cervical cancer in women. Virtually, all cervical cancer cases (99 percent) are linked to genital infection with HPV which is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract, according to WHO. HPV can also cause other types of anogenital cancer, head and neck cancers, and genital warts in both men and women as the virus is transmitted through sexual contact.And even as measures are being put in place to bring the HPV vaccine on board,cheap nfl jerseys, Minister Ramsammy disclosed that Guyana is rapidly expanding its Prevention and Control of Cervical Cancer programme. “Presently, our partners from OMNI Med in the USA are in Guyana to assist in scaling up the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) programme.” The Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) technique involves the use of a vaginal speculum during which a health care provider applies dilute (three-five percent) acetic acid (vinegar) to the cervix. Precancerous lesions or cancer cells temporarily appear white when exposed to vinegar. The provider then views the cervix with the naked eye to identify colour changes to determine whether the test result is positive or negative for possible precancerous lesions or cancer. Director of Regional Health Services, Dr Narine SinghIt was in January last that the Ministry of Health sought to expand the public health sector’s ability to carry out screening for cervical cancer through its collaboration with the John Hopkins University. In the form of a trainer of trainers workshop, the collaborative effort was geared at building human resource capacity to utilise the VIA technique or single visit approach to screening,http://www.footlockershop.us.com/Fell-raiser/, according to Director of Regional Health Services, Dr Narine Singh. He said that through the John Hopkins Programme for International Education in Gynaecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO), local practitioners at the end of the workshop would have been equipped with the relevant knowledge and skills required to train other levels of health care providers.The participants, including Dr Singh, were locked in intense and interactive sessions during the workshop. According to Dr Singh, the initiative is in fact an offspring of a project the Georgetown Public Hospital had some years ago engaged with the John Hopkins University. The project, he said was then centred on the screening of women, especially those who tested positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), for cervical cancer.“This was the main objective then because as is known, HIV positive women are more proned to develop cervical cancer…but it was after a few years into the programme that the Ministry of Health decided to have the programme expanded given the effective nature of the VIA technique.”It was against this background, Dr Singh said that a decision was made to have the approach become a national programme rather than leaving it confined mainly to HIV positive women. “With this training we are hoping to roll it (screening) out countrywide because we recognise that cervical cancer is a major problem in Guyana. It is one of the most common types of cancer among women,jerseys nfl wholesale,” Dr Singh disclosed.According to the Regional Director, once detected early, cervical cancer can be treated and eventually cured, thus the need to expand screening in order to make treatment readily available. He revealed that through the process of screening, using the VIA technique, health care providers could detect legions that could be cancerous. “We recognise that this is the way to go because it is one of the ways that we can help to prevent cervical cancer. So we have to encourage women to get themselves screened and if they show positive legions we can perform effective treatment.”Even legions that are suspected to be cancerous can be treated right away utilising a freezing technique, according to Dr Singh. At the moment, VIA clinics are held at the GPHC, the Campbellville Health Centre, the Dorothy Bailey Health Centre and at the St Joseph’s Mercy Hospital. Out of Georgetown, persons can access the service at the New Amsterdam and Skeldon hospitals.With the expansion of the programme underway, the Director divulged that among the health facilities that are immediate targets for screening activities are the Suddie, Charity, Bartica, Mabaruma, Leonora, West Demerara, Mahaicony and Linden Hospitals. |
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