Tashkent, May 24, 2021 – The official opening of the project "HPV testing for early detection of cervical cancer" took place in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The official launch was held within the framework of the joint UNDP-UNFPA Program “Building the Resilience of Local Communities Against Health, Environmental and Economic Insecurities in the Aral Sea Region”, carried out with the financial support of the Government of Japan.
The opening was attended by representatives of UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), representatives of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Ministry of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, representatives of Republican Specialized Scientific-Practical Medical Center of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as representatives of regional health departments, obstetrician-gynaecologists and others.
Earlier, in January 2021, within the framework of this program, equipment and test systems for the detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) were supplied. In particular, 8 testing equipment and 50 000 test systems were procured to the Republic of Karakalpakstan, financed by the Government of Japan. With support support from UNFPA, additional 2 testing equipment and 6 000 test systems were purchased in the city of Chirchik, as part of the joint UNFPA-WHO cervical cancer screening programme in Tashkent region.
Equipment and test systems based on GeneXpert are aimed at effective detection of oncogenic HPV types, contributing to early detection of cervical cancer and prevention of its further development.
Yu Yu, UNFPA Representative in Uzbekistan, noted three important elements that will strengthen the implementation of this project, namely, voluntary participation, the quality of the services offered, and access to treatment. He highlighted that ‘’more screening will result in more patients identified at different stages of cervical cancer, hence significantly increasing the demand for cancer treatment services. This will need strong preparedness of the Ministry of Health to get the treatment capacity strengthened so as to meet such increased demand.’’
According to E. I. Basitkhanova, Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, “it is expected that the results of this project will help the Ministry of Health to formulate the National Strategy to address the issues of cervical and breast cancer, using the best practices, new techniques and the most optimal methods of early detection of oncological diseases. "
This program demonstrates the results of successful cooperation of UNFPA with the Government of Uzbekistan and other international partners, aimed at improving the health of mothers and children, in line with the goals of the State Program.
UNFPA, the United Nations Reproductive Health agency, has been working in Uzbekistan since 1993, and is currently implementing its fifth Country Programme (2020-2025) together with national partners.
