Cervical Cancer: HPV Vaccination to implement in Myanmar

According the findings of WHO, there were an estimated over 600,000 cervical cancer cases and over 300,000 deaths every year globally in 2020.

In the annual cervical rate, there are 13.3 incidences and 6.9 deaths per 100,000 women. As per the 2023 March report of WHO, the first most frequent cervical cancer among women aged 15-44 years and there are 25.3 incidences per 100,000 women in Myanmar.

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively.  Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting women worldwide, after breast, colorectal, and lung cancers but especially it’s the second commonest cancer in the developing countries.

Among the cases, HPV types (16 and 18) are known to be responsible of 70% of cervical cancers and the cervical cancer vaccine protects against HPV types 16 and 18 that cause most HPV cancers.

While vaccination is a good opportunity for early prevention of cancer, school basis and community basis immunization program is going to be implemented for girls aged 9 to 12 years.

Myanmar is also trying to get fully coverage of immunization for targeted age group and cooperative efforts are being made to be able to administer full doses for girls who turned 9 years but under 12.