Georgetown: The Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association has embarked on a partnership with the Rotary Club of Georgetown to launch a Campaign to address Cervical Cancer in Guyana. The Rotary Club will be supported by Scotia Bank to make a financial contribution in support of the Campaign which will be rolled out by GRPA, providing medical, counselling and educational services. Medical outreach sessions will be carried out in rural and hinterland communities, where the prevalence is high and where women lack access to services.
The Campaign will kick off with the handing over a cheque to the GRPA on Wednesday, September 30th, 2015 at 12:00 noon at the Georgetown Club, 208 Camp Street, Georgetown.
Cervical cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide, including Guyana where the rate is significantly high. In June 2014 the GRPA with support from the International Planned Parenthood Association (IPPF) and JHPIEGO (an affiliate of the John Hopkins University) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health carried out a Regional training of VIA providers from Belize, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago, St Lucia, Curacao, Suriname and Guyana to detect cervical cancer and to treat pre-cancerous cells. This included the training of doctors as Trainers to ensure that medical expertise is available locally. On this occasion, the GRPA launched its VIA screening and cryo-therapy services; 230 women were screened in 3 days, of which 11 were positive, 3 had large lesions and 2 cancer. A worrying factor was the number of young women in the early 20's who were tested positive.
The October to December 2015 campaign will provide free VIA screening and cryo-therapy, breast examination and also pap smear (if required). This move is seen as very important in increasing the accessibility of diagnostic and early treatment services to numerous women in low income as well as rural and indigenous communities. A significant aspect of VIA is that it facilitates a Single-Visit approach, whereby a woman can get tested, get her results and be treated in One-Single-Visit to the health facility.
We are urging all women to get screened and to contact the GRPA for information. We can be reached at 225-3286/225-0739 or via email: grpa.gy@gmail.com. Our clinic is located at 70 Quamina Street (between Quick Serv and Hallmark Store).
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