PAHO celebrates International Women’s Day with focus on cervical cancer
Washington, March 8 2007 (PAHO)—The Pan American Health Organization observed International Women’s Day today with a panel of experts who outlined ways to improve cervical cancer prevention, including use of the new Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine and better screening, especially for poor women.
PAHO Director Dr. Mirta Roses said, “It is appropriate that we take advantage of the celebration of International Women’s Day to call renewed attention to cervical cancer and its devastating impact on the health and well-being of women throughout the Region. We know that it is a serious public health problem, but we also know that it is significantly exacerbated by social and economic inequalities, since almost 80 percent of the cases occur in low-income countries, and these inequalities are mirrored inside them, adversely impacting indigenous, poor, and rural women.”
Cervical cancer affects some 500,000 women worldwide every year, and about half of these women do not survive. PAHO has estimated that more than 37,600 deaths due to cervical cancer occur annually in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“Fortunately, every day more instruments for lowering the incidence of cervical cancer are becoming available,” Dr. Roses said. “However, we must raise awareness and build the necessary consensus to effectively utilize these instruments, coordinating the efforts of governments, public health facilities, the private sector, families, and the population at large.”
Dr. Anne Schuchat, who heads the national immunization program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said “We must strengthen partnerships” to help prevent cervical cancer through the HPV vaccine. Experts from the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, and other institutions discussed efficient introduction of HPV vaccines, which today cost about $300 for the three recommended doses.
But traditional cervical cancer prevention and control programs based on screening, diagnosis and treatment are also very costly, according to Dr. Merle Lewis of PAHO’s Immunization Unit. In 2001, she noted, Costa Rica reported cervical cancer program investments in excess of $86 million, while in the US, cervical cancer treatment costs are estimated at $2 billion a year and $6 billion a year is spent on evaluation and management of low grade lesions, most of which require no intervention.
She emphasized that while HPV vaccines could potentially reduce the cervical cancer burden by about 70 percent, vaccination will not replace cervical cancer screening.
Singer Christine Baze, founder of the advocacy group popsmear.org, gave a personal account of her devastating discovery at age 31 that she had invasive cervical cancer and her decision, after successful treatment, to campaign for cervical cancer screening and awareness through personal appearances and the Yellow Umbrella national concert tour.
“Ï always thought a Pap smear every year was fine, but now I know it’s not enough. My cancer was missed. We have to promote new technologies, like liquid-based Pap and HPV tests, and the HPV vaccine so that we save women and girls from this cancer,” she said.
Additional Information:
The Pan American Health Organization, founded in 1902, works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of their peoples. It serves as the Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO).
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