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| Graphic from FB page of Healthy Pilipinas |
Hong Kong's Department of Health (DH) has launched this year’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month with a call for women, including female OFWs, to undergo cervical screening.
“Infection with HPV (human papillomavirus) or early stages
of cervical cancer may not have any noticeable symptoms,” the DH said. “Therefore,
women aged 25 to 64 who have had sexual experience should undergo regular
cervical screenings.”
“The Government will
further expand cervical screening services to encourage more women to undergo
screening and safeguard their health," said Dr Edwin Tsui, controller
of the Centre for Health Protection of the DH.
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| DETAILS HERE |
January has been designated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (WHO) as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month to raise awareness and motivate actions against cervical cancer, with the goal of eliminating this public health concern within the next century.
In Hong Kong, cervical cancer was the seventh most common
female cancer in 2023 and the ninth leading cause of cancer deaths among
females.
As most cervical cancers are caused by persistent infection
with high-risk HPV, women are recommended to receive HPV vaccination before
having sexual relations, undergo regular cervical screenings and practise safe
sex (such as using condoms and avoiding multiple sexual partners) to prevent
HPV infection. In addition, smoking should be avoided as it can increase the
risk of cervical cancer.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
The Cervical Screening Program has been ongoing since 2004
while HPV vaccination has been included under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunization
Programme (HKCIP) since 2019, with a high vaccination rate of about 90 per cent
in recent years.
The DH also launched a one-off HPV Vaccination Catch-up
Program in December 2024, with over 48 000 doses administered so far.
Cervical screening services are available at Maternal and Child Health Centres (https://www.fhs.gov.hk/english/centre_det/maternal/maternal.html) of the DH, Women Wellness Satellites (https://www.wws.org.hk/page/contact-us), as well as through non-governmental organizations and private healthcare providers.
The DH also regularly sends reminders to eligible women via the Cervical
Screening Information System and the eHealth mobile app to schedule their
screenings, it added.
