The Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority has strengthened its continuous efforts to fight cervical cancer, commemorating Cervical Cancer Awareness Month (January) with province-wide awareness campaigns on prevention, screening and vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV)—the leading cause of cervical cancer.
Last Friday (30 January 2026), the WHPHA team visited the Nengil community in Baiyer, where large crowds gathered to hear vital health information from frontline health workers.
Mul Baiyer DHPO, Douglas Konts, urged mothers to take advantage of free check-ups at the Well Women’s Clinic in Mt Hagen Provincial Hospital. He warned that women living with the HPV virus face serious risks if they do not undergo early screening and treatment.
Josephine Gabuzzi, Clinical HEO and Project Coordinator for Cervical Cancer Screening, highlighted the importance of early detection in preventing cervical cancer. She explained that the HPV virus can remain dormant in the body for 10 to 15 years before symptoms appear thus, making regular check-ups is essential for women to know their status.
Gabuzzi further noted that if a patient tests positive, the clinic provides thermal ablation—a heatbased treatment that effectively destroys abnormal cells before they progress into cancer, this ensures timely intervention and better health outcomes.
Midwife and HPV program facilitator, Maureen Moti, emphasized the vital importance of vaccinating young girls between the ages of 9 and 14 to protect them from cervical cancer. She proudly noted that the WHPHA was the first in the country to introduce the HPV vaccine in August 2024, and since then, has successfully rolled it out across schools and communities throughout theprovince, ensuring that more girls have access to this life-saving protection.
According to reports, cervical cancer claims more than 1 500 to 2 000 women’s lives annually in PNG, with 150–200 deaths recorded each year in Western Highlands alone.
To reduce this toll, WHPHA is promoting:
- Screening and treatment for women aged 30–59 and
- HPV vaccination for girls aged 9–14.
Few Cervical Cancer facilities available across the region includes;
- Well Women’s Clinic, Mt Hagen Provincial Hospital (Western Highlands)
- Walianda Clinic (Hela Province)
- Mendi, Southern Highlands Province
- Well Women’s Clinic (Madang Province)
- Stella Marie’s Clinic (New Ireland PHA)
With these initiatives, WHPHA hopes to protect future generations of women and reduce the devastating impact of cervical cancer across the country.
