Cervical cancer screening introduced

Health Protection Agency has introduced the service of screening for cervical cancer in the Maldives.

Ministry of Health said that the service was introduced yesterday at Urban Primary Health Care Centre (Dhamanaveshi), and while the first phase of the program will be carried out through Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, it will later be introduced at Hulhumale’ Hospital and Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital as well.

The ministry said that initially, the service will be available one day per week, and 25 appointments will be given daily on days that the service is available.

This service will be provided gratis, and women between 30 and 50 years of age are advised to take this test once every five years.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common types of cancers among women, and it is most common among women in South Asia.

Cervical cancer is caused by abnormal growth or division of cells in the cervix. Infection with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the greatest risk factor for cervical cancer, followed by smoking; and a person infected with HPV virus who smokes is 27 times more likely to develop cervical cancer.