The Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority (WHPHA) is leading the fight against cervical cancer by implementing Papua New Guinea’s first comprehensive elimination program, focusing on the country’s most prevalent cancer among women.
In PNG, cervical cancer claims more than 2,000 lives annually and is primarily caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a highly transmissible virus that infects up to 90% of adults. While most infections are cleared naturally by the immune system, a small percentage persist and can lead to cancer over a period of time, particularly in women aged 30 to 59.
Dr. Paulus Ripa, the Program Manager for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer Program in Western Highlands (ECCPWH), states that the province has made significant progress in addressing the disease. “We are the first in PNG to establish a comprehensive program that includes screening, treatment, and vaccination,” he explained.
He said the journey began a decade ago when the PNG Institute of Medical Research (IMR) and WHPHA collaborated and in 2022, the program officially started with a K4 million grant from Australia’s Minderoo Foundation, funding a three-year rollout.
“This program focuses on two key strategies: screening and treatment for women aged 30–60 using the GenXpert technology, and vaccination for girls aged 9–14. In our recent report, we have screened over 29,500 women and we are close to reaching our target of 30, 000,” Dr. Ripa noted.
“Those who test positive receive thermal ablation treatment, a heat-based method that destroys pre-cancerous cells, while more advanced cases are referred for surgery or chemotherapy.”
Dr. James Tony, who oversees clinical treatment, mentioned that 80% of positive cases are effectively managed with thermal ablation, while the remaining 20%, primarily pre-invasive cancers, are referred for further care.
Josephine Gabuzzi, the Project Coordinator, shared that women from other provinces, including Port Moresby and other highlands provinces travel to Mt. Hagen to access these services.
“Meanwhile, our outreach initiatives have played a crucial role in the program’s success, with a specially fitted truck traveling throughout the four districts to provide both screening and vaccination services,” she said.
As support expands to other provinces, Western Highlands PHA is leading PNG’s cervical cancer elimination efforts, with screening clinics now in SHP, Hela, New Ireland, and plans underway for Milne Bay. “We’ve made a strong start and are proud to be leading the way in protecting the women of PNG,” Dr. Ripa remarked.
