The South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) will offer free Pap smear screenings and Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccinations at selected health centres across the region during April, in observance of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
The initiative is aimed at promoting early detection and prevention of cervical cancer, which remains one of the most common cancers affecting Jamaican women, SERHA said in a statement on Tuesday.
SERHA is the arm of the health minitry responsible for the delivery of health care services to residents of St Catherine, St Thomas, Kingston and St Andrew.
Vaccinations will be administered to males aged 9-14 years and females aged 9-26 years, while Pap smears will be offered to eligible women at the designated sites.
Services will be available on a rotating schedule at several health centres, beginning Wednesday, April 8, at the Glen Vincent Health Centre (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Other locations include Kitson Town Health Centre on April 11, Sydenham Health Centre on April 12, Central Village and Cumberland Health Centres on April 19, and St. Jago Park Health Centre on April 26.
SERHA said the sessions will also include public education on the importance of regular screening and HPV vaccination, particularly for young people and parents.
The authority noted that most cases of cervical cancer are linked to the Human papilloma virus, which is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, and said there were 386 new cases reported in 2020.
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