MINISTER OF HEALTH John Boyce said the Ministry is working on a national cancer action plan to assess the root causes and solution for common preventable cancers.
Boyce said gynaecological cancers, familiarly known as below the belt cancers, were the leading cause of cancer in women and were responsible for, on average, 20 yearly deaths over the last five years.
Speaking at the opening of the Gynaecological Cancer and Diagnostic Unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Boyce said, “Only through a comprehensive national cancer screening and prevention programme will we be able to achieve much lower rates. To this end the ministry of health is working on a national cancer action plan to address the root causes and solutions for common preventable cancers”.
He added that the ministry also introduced the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine to be given to the preteen and teen girls to prevent cervical cancer.
He added that at the beginning of the September 2015 school term the vaccine was extended to teenaged boys.
“I am happy to report that the uptake is showing increasingly good results,” Boyce said.
The Unit was developed using funds raised from the Globeathon walks of 2013 and 2014. (LK)
