The General Medical and Social Assistance Division of the municipality of Chisinau aims to increase the degree of vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) in order to effectively prevent infections with this virus and, implicitly, cases of cervical cancer. Between September 2024 and January 2025, policies will be developed to allow the implementation of this program at the municipal level starting with 2025, deputy head of the department Vladimir Bolocan stated in the ordinary meeting of officials of municipal services, IPN reports.

According to data presented by the National Public Health Agency, about 300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the Republic of Moldova annually. Every three days a woman dies from this disease. The persistent infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer as this is identified in 95% of cervical tumors.

According to the WHO Global Strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem, the countries must achieve and maintain an incidence rate of less than four new cases of cervical cancer per 100,000 women per year. This goal can be achieved through vaccination: 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15; screening: 70% of women screened using a high-performance test by the age of 35, and again by the age of 45; treatment: 90% of women with pre-cancer treated and 90% of women with invasive cancer managed.