Full cancer screening vital, doctor says

 Papua New Guinea needs comprehensive screening for women to address cervical cancer, Health Department technical adviser Dr Edward Waramin says.

“Whether they are vaccinated or not, it is very important for women, especially when they are in their reproductive ages from 15 to 49, to be screened,” Waramin said. 

He said it was important and critical for women to go to their nearest health facility for screening.

“Health workers there are trained to screen for any abnormalities in the reproductive system,” he said.

“If they discover there might be some signs of developing cancer, they can refer the women to the appropriate hospitals where doctors and other specialists can deal with them.”

Waramin said it was also important to note that getting the vaccine would not give women 100 per cent cover or prevention.

“We are talking about 70 per cent to 80 per cent cover, so there are some other human papilloma viruses that may cause cancer that we are not covering with the vaccine that we will give. At the moment we have got the plan and we are waiting for the vaccines to arrive.”