In wake of low HPV vaccination rate in Linden -Ministry hosts sensitization concert

In wake of low HPV vaccination rate in Linden –Ministry hosts sensitization concert

Mar 05, 2019 News

Linden has recorded a poor vaccination rate, particularly in relation to the Human Papillomavirus [HPV]. This is according to School Health Officer attached to the Public Health Ministry, Dr. Faqueeda Watson-Jones, who recently vocalized her concern about the poor vaccination rate.
Moreover, in order to raise awareness about the importance of being vaccinated against HPV, the Ministry decided to host a sensitization concert in Linden.
“Reports were made that a few head teachers from various schools in Linden have refused to allow health workers into schools, due to lack of knowledge on the HPV vaccine, hence the awareness concert was held to sensitise all citizens of Linden about HPV and other killer diseases such as prostate and breast cancers,” Dr. Watson said.
At the concert too, Deputy Chief Medical Officer [DCMO], Dr. Karen Campbell, challenged residents to change their taste to help the country win the war against cancer.
“In the Caribbean, research has shown that by far, the majority of our caloric intake is not from the foods we eat, but from the sugars we consume from highly-sweetened beverages. We must choose water or fresh, unsweetened juices and ‘smoothies’, which are full of cancer-fighting vitamins,” Dr. Campbell said while addressing the audience at the Cancer Sensitisation Concert held in the bauxite-mining town last weekend.
The concert, which was sponsored by the Ministry’s Adolescent Health Unit, focused on cervical cancer, which kills some 100 Guyanese women annually, making it the leading cause of cancer deaths among local women.

Young artistes in performance mode at the Cancer Sensitisation Concert.

Statistics from the Ministry of Public Health show the country’s incidence of cancer-related mortality is among the highest in the Caribbean. According to the data, Guyana ranks highest with an incidence rate of 46.9 percent and a mortality rate of 21.0 per 100,000 persons.
By contrast, globally, there are some 530,000 new cases of cervical cancer annually killing a little over half its victims.
Guyana is among a handful of Caribbean countries, which also include Barbados, Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago that offer free HPV vaccines to help in the war against cervical cancer.
Late last month, Public Health Minister, Mrs Volda Lawrence, announced that the government has made available the HPV vaccine for boys also.
The vaccination provides safe, effective, and long-lasting protection against cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a common virus that infects adolescents and adults. Internationally, about 14 million people, including adolescents, become infected with HPV each year. The infection can cause cervical (mouth of the womb in girls/women), vaginal and vulvar cancers in women and penile cancer in men. HPV can also cause anal cancer, cancer of the back of the throat (oropharynx), and genital warts in both boys and girls.
“We should recognise the value of these services being offered to our children not just at clinics, but by health workers who are taking the vaccines into the schools to ensure your children (boys and girls) 16 years of age and under get this protection,” Dr. Campbell said during her feature address at the concert.
She cautioned against the consumption of excessive sugary foods and beverages noting that they are known to be a powerful inflammatory agents that can eventually lead to intestinal cancers, obesity, insulin resistance and eventually, diabetes.
The concert featured a number of local artistes from the mining town in [Region 10 – (Upper Demerara/Berbice)]. The various cultural items encouraged the audience to adopt healthier lifestyles and share information on cancer-prevention with their co-workers, family and friends.
It was there too that Regma Primary was adjudged the winner of the HPV Jingle and Song competition followed by New Silver City Secondary.