KINGSTON, Jamaica. Tuesday, April 16, 2024: During the month of April, in honour of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) will provide free Pap smear screening in the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew and St. Catherine.
The health departments will do educational sessions on Cervical Cancer, free breast cancer screenings and administers the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to females between the ages of 9 and 26, and males between the ages of 9 and 14.
Cervical Cancer is a significant health concern globally as thousands of lives are lost
each year due to late diagnoses resulting from a lack of screening. Among Jamaican women, it is the third most commonly occurring cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
Screening is the best way to identify cancer in its earliest stages; often before it causes any symptoms. Advanced stages of cervical cancer may cause: abnormal bleeding, spotting between periods, and or unusual vaginal discharge.
By recognising the importance of early detection in saving lives, SERHA is taking their annual initiative forward by providing free Cervical Cancer screenings to women and HPV screenings to women and men. This initiative aligns with our mission to promote preventive healthcare and empower individuals to take charge of their well-being.
