The Ministry of Health (MoH) has reported significant progress in the fight against cervical cancer, achieving a 61 percent treatment rate for diagnosed cases in 2023.
The ministry anticipates this figure will increase once data for 2024 is analysed.
Director of Reproductive Health, Doreen Ali, said that the ministry is striving to reach a 90 percent treatment rate and emphasised the need for support from private health practitioners to enhance efforts against cervical cancer.
Ali made the remarks during this year’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action, held in Lilongwe.
She emphasised the importance of equipping frontline health workers with the necessary training and resources to improve efficiency in combating cervical cancer.
Over the past four years, the MoH has successfully treated approximately 20,000 cervical cancer patients and aims to expand access to treatment in the coming years.
Ali further noted that the ministry is also running a campaign to encourage girls to receive the HPV vaccination for maximum prevention and called on the media to assist in raising awareness about the importance of HPV vaccination. Since the introduction of the vaccine in 2019, about 1 million girls have been vaccinated.
National Professional Officer for the World Health Organization (WHO), Susan Kambale, commended the MoH for its increased HPV testing and vaccination efforts. Kambale also lauded frontline health workers for their exceptional service in the fight against cervical cancer.
Malawi continues to register high rates of cervical cancer, which remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the country, with nearly 3,000 deaths recorded annually.
The event was commemorated under the theme: “Elevating Frontline Health Workers: Transforming Global Commitments into Lifesaving Actions.”
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