By Adelaide Kari – EMTV News, Port Moresby
January is the month for cervical cancer awareness, and in the nation’s capital, Governor Powes Parkop and the NCDC health department will be having a Walk for Cervical Cancer.
The walk is this Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31.
Current estimates from the Human Papillomavirus and Related cancers Fact sheet 2015, shows that of the 2.37 million women aging 15 years and older are at risk of developing cervical cancer.
Current estimates indicate that every year 938 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 546 die from the disease.
Governor Parkop called on the Department of health to have Paps Smear test, set up for every woman in the country to get tested before it is too late.
The Department of Health, and the World Health Organisation have approved a new vaccine called the HPV Vaccine.
The HPV Vaccine will be given to girls between the ages of 9 and 13 in the nation’s capital district starting March 2016.
Plans are underway to introduce the vaccine to the rest of the country.
Governor Parkop is calling on everyone in NCD, especially all men, to wake up at 5:30am and join him in the walk against cervical cancer.
