MALE’, the Maldives--To better prevent and treat cervical cancer, the Ministry of Health and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, have begun to promote a new methodology to detect the virus responsible.

Early detection of the human papilloma virus (HPV) and prompt treatment can prevent the majority of cervical cancers. Until recently only Pap smears were used in the Maldives to detect HPV. However, new technology makes it possible to use visual inspection with acetic acid screening (VIA) to complement the standard diagnosis process. This month the Ministry and UNFPA organized a workshop introducing VIA to Maldives medical personnel.

Worldwide, it is estimated that HPV is responsible for 270,000 deaths of women every year. Most of people are infected shortly after onset of sexual activity. While the Maldives has no official data on cervical cancer, studies have shown high prevalence of risk factors commonly associated with it.
“I am hopeful that the participants can bring about a change in screening more women for cervical cancer through this more practical approach,” says Dr. Partha Basu, Head of the Department of Gynaecological Oncology at Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute and in charge of conducting the workshop.

While conventional detection methods requires highly trained technicians and detects just 47 to 62 per cent of cervical cancer cases, VIA screening can potentially be provided at all levels of the health care system and detects between 67 and 79 per cent of infected cases.

Dr. Inaya Abdul Raheem, Senior Medical Officer at Hulhumale’ Hospital, is hopeful that within a year, VIA screening will be available in many other islands, including the nation’s outer atolls.

“This process is less complicated in nature, ” Dr. Raheem explains, “and could easily be carried out by nurses and health care personnel.”