Stay healthy. Get a Pap test! Cervical Cancer Prevention Week begins today
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, the Cervical Screening Implementation Coordination Unit, in partnership with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and other partners launched today, January 25, the Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2021, which takes place from January 25 to 31.
Dozens of private organizations and public institutions, including the Customs Service, the General Police Inspectorate, the Moldcell Foundation, but also the medical community, local public authorities, civil society, Youth Centers, Youth Friendly Health Centers, journalists and opinion leaders, joined forces to urge women to maintain their health.
This year’s event emphasizes the concept of prevention, given that there are tools – such as vaccination and screening – that can significantly reduce the risk of this disease.
“Life and health have priority, regardless of challenges and pandemics. Despite all the problems caused by COVID-19, we have continuously ensured women’s access to cervical screening services, in safe conditions. I urge you to take care of your health, make an appointment with your family doctor and take the cytology test once every 3 years. The test is free. Likewise, vaccination against the Human Papilloma Virus during adolescence contributes significantly to reducing the rate of cervical cancer. Love yourself! Love yourself, mothers, sisters, wives, friends! Take the cytology test!”, mentioned Tatiana Zatîc, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection.
“Study on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in the field of cervical cancer prevention”, conducted in 2020, shows that the trend of performing the cytological test in the Republic of Moldova is positive. The awareness of women aged 25 to 61 years regarding the cytological test increased from 47% in 2018 to 62% in 2020, and the share of women who performed the prevention test, as a result of their knowledge, has doubled in the last two years.
“Now, more than ever, we need to join forces to accelerate this trend and reach ZERO cases of women dying from cervical cancer, because this disease is absolutely preventable.
“Three key interventions are needed to eliminate cervical cancer: vaccination, screening and effective treatment. Successful implementation of these measures could reduce new cases of the disease by over 40% and save the lives of 5 million women by 2050,” said Nigina Abaszada, UNFPA Resident Representative in Moldova.
Cervical cancer is the cancer that is 80 percent preventable.
This is one of the diseases in women that can be easily prevented by vaccination against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in adolescence and the cytological test, performed every 3 years, between the ages of 25-61, free of charge at the family doctor.
In our country, there are 4182 patients affected by cervical cancer, which constitutes 227.1 per 100 thousand female population. Around 300 new cases are registered annually, respectively 17.1 per 100 thousand female population. 47 percent are cases detected in the early stage (stage I and II), the patients undergoing specific treatment.
The age of women in whom cervical cancer is most often detected is between 40-45 years and 50-60 years. Unfortunately, around 160 women die from this disease every year.
During Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, several information and public awareness actions will be organized to call on women to regularly undergo preventive cytology tests and maintain their health.
More information: www.paptest.md
For contact:
Information and Media Communication Service, Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection: Tel. 022-268-811;
Irina Lipcanu, Communication Analyst, UNFPA Moldova: Tel. 069162304;
E-mail: lipcanu-denuta@unfpa.org;