Cervical screening and vaccination against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) are measures to prevent cervical cancer, available free of charge in the Republic of Moldova. On January 28, travelers who crossed the Leușeni Customs Point received information about the importance of early detection and performing the cytological test.
The event was organized by the Cervical Screening Implementation Coordination Unit within the Institute of Mother and Child, in partnership with the Customs Service, the Association of Free Trade Unions “PUBLICSIND” and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA Moldova), under the aegis of the Ministry of Health, in the context of the European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, held between January 26 and February 2.
The action was carried out in the customs area considering the large number of women who cross the border daily, who are eligible for free cytological screening every three years in the family doctor’s office. At the same time, the people who crossed the customs point were encouraged to pass on the information to women in their families.
The event was attended by representatives of institutions involved in the management of prevention programs: the State Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Angela Paraschiv, the representative of the World Health Organization in the Republic of Moldova, Miljana Grbic, the director of the Customs Service, Alexandru Iacub, the deputy representative of UNFPA Moldova, Natalia Plugaru, and the president of the Association of Free Trade Unions “PUBLICSIND”, Viorica Soroceanu.
The national screening program allows women aged 25 to 61 to undergo a free cytological test. In situations requiring additional investigations, they can benefit from colposcopy in one of the 12 specialized offices in the country, equipped with modern equipment with the support of UNFPA Moldova and the Government of the United Kingdom. The offices are part of the National Colposcopy Network launched on November 2, 2023 and are located in Soroca, Comrat, Cahul, Căușeni, Ungheni, Orhei, Drochia, Ceadâr-Lunga, Bălți and Chișinău (Mother and Child Institute, Oncology Institute and Municipal Clinical Hospital “Gheorghe Paladi”).
According to data from the Oncological Institute, 338 cases of cervical cancer were registered in 2024 (including cases on the left bank of the Dniester), of which 203 were identified by cytology and colposcopy within the National Screening Program. The coverage rate with cytological screening increased from 36% in 2021 to 61% in 2024.
