The prevention of cervical cancer should be a priority for the authorities and for the population too. Forces should be combined as it is easier to prevent than to treat. The issue was discussed in public hearings centering on cervical cancer control policies and the implementation of the national vaccination program that were staged by the Parliament’s commission on social protection, health and family, IPN reports.
Svetlana Nicolaescu, secretary of state of the Ministry of Health, said that increased attention is devoted to prevention aspects in Moldova and the health system has been reoriented to prevention. “The persons are used to go and see a doctor only when they experience a health problem. When we have prevention services available, it is very important for the people to know about them. As regards the HPV vaccine, the key objective is to prevent and eliminate cervical cancer. The fact that vaccination against the human papilloma virus is part of the vaccination program is an accomplishment for us,” noted the official.
UNFPA Moldova Deputy Representative Natalia Plugaru said that effort should be made to invest in prevention. Cervical cancer is the only form of cancer that can be prevented and it is unacceptable for women to die from this cancer when their lives can be saved.
“I’m glad that investments the past three years have been made principally in screening. Doctors were trained and the protocols were adjusted to the standards. There are yet shortcomings, primarily in the covering with services: even if the number of women who had a Pap test has doubled the last few years, this is not enough. The women should be more actively invited to the family doctor for cervical cytology. The quality of diagnosis and accreditation of laboratories are the second subject. There are international norms providing that a laboratory must process a minimum of 15,000 tests for keeping the quality level. In Moldova, there are many laboratories that are under this level and we this way risk having false positive tests and false negative tests. The uninsured women are the third subject. These now do not benefit from free colposcopy services and it is paradoxical that an insured woman can do the cytology test free, but must pay for colposcopy,” stated Natalia Plugaru.
The head of the National Immunization Committee Ninel Revenco said the national immunization plan hasn’t been approved and this is a reason for concern. “Over 3,000 doctors have been taught about the necessity of vaccinating children. We every time warn that those myths disseminated among the population and health workers should be done away with. They should also have other performance instruments. The doctor attestation commission is an instrument. When we have the doctor’s diploma, we are obliged to do our work properly and punishments should also exist,” stated Ninel Revenco.
Angela Paraschiv, of the Moldova State University’s Preventive Medicine Department, noted that instruments to facilitate vaccination are needed, including through the agency of schools. “The vaccination rate increases together with age. Parents consider the child aged 10 is still small and needs to grow up for being vaccinated. Some of the countries increased the age at which children can be vaccinated. There where vaccination is mandatory, the vaccination rate increases. However, we should not forget about communication with parents and children in schools. It is important to educate a new generation that would use prevention instruments,” noted Angela Paraschiv.
Specialists said the national cervical screening program is a mechanism that should be used to the maximum, not only ahead of a tragedy. The human papilloma virus can be detected ten years before it can develop into a form of cancer.
