WHO and UNFPA highlight importance of immunization and screening against cervical cancer in Georgia.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death among women in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where it is associated with enormous personal distress, social disruption, and financial costs for women, their families, and the health systems. Caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), cervical cancer is the 5th most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in Georgia.
Despite being preventable, it remains a major health issue in the country, where over 40% of women diagnosed are diagnosed in late (III and IV) stages. Most cervical cancer cases can be prevented by the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, and this disease is also curable if it is detected early and treated appropriately.
The HPV vaccine is safe and effective in preventing cervical cancer. We commend Georgia for including the HPV vaccine in the national immunization programme. Achieving high rates of vaccination is key to eliminating cervical cancer in Georgia” - said Dr. Silviu Domente, WHO Representative and the Head of WHO Country Office, Georgia.
In November 2020 WHO launched the Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem. It outlines three pillars of cervical cancer elimination – HPV vaccination, cervical screening, and treatment. All three pillars must be implemented collectively and at scale to achieve the goal of elimination.
In recognition of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month WHO Georgia and UNFPA Georgia stress the importance of access to HPV immunization, quality screening and treatment of precancerous lesions to eliminate cervical cancer.
It is important to remember that elimination of cervical cancer is feasible if we make steps forward in all of the directions defined by the Global Strategy. It is essential for all women in Georgia to be knowledgeable about their health, about prevention of cervical cancer, and about the importance of regular participation in the cancer screening programme for their health and well-being. We believe that up-to-date screening services shall be brought closer to women, especially to those living in rural and hard-to-reach areas in order to achieve high coverage of cancer screening, which saves lives… We also commend Georgia for introduction of HPV testing for women” - said Ms. Lela Bakradze, Head of the UNFPA Georgia Country Office.
The Government of Georgia and international partners (WHO, UNFPA) have supported introduction of organized cervical cancer vaccination and screening programmes to reduce the burden of cervical cancer in Georgia and are committed to taking the next steps in line with the WHO strategy to eliminate cervical cancer. Already we can highlight the following commitments in the areas of prevention, screening, treatment and data management:
Prevention: HPV vaccination is included in the national vaccination program (schedule), for girls 10-12 years old. In 2022 the Government of Georgia approved a “catch up” program for girls 13-18, while from 2023 the age of vaccination has increased to 46.*
As of now the vaccination programme includes:
• 2-dose vaccination for girls under 10-12 with an interval of at least 6 months;
• 3-dose vaccination for girls and women 13-46 years according to the following schedule: 0 - 2 - 6 months. The minimum interval between the first and second dose should be at least 1 month, and the minimum interval between the second and third dose should be at least 3 months.
Screening: The national screening program provides cervical cancer screening free of charge for women between 25-60 across Georgia. HPV testing of women over 30 years of age will begin in March-April.
Treatment: Evidence-based guidelines for treatment of cervical cancer have been developed.
Data: The National Cancer Screening Registry was established to improve screening participation and data management.
* HPV vaccination and cervical screening are free and available in primary health-care centers and national screening centers. HPV Vaccination is also free for boys and men aged 10-26 and it prevents cancer in various localizations. For additional information, please contact the hotline of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC): 116 001
