FK-KMK UGM. Center for Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing UGM held a Guest Lecture “Indonesia’s Progress Towards Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cervical Cancer” on Thursday (26/10) at the Theater Room on the 2nd floor of the Faculty’s Library.
Cervical cancer is a new crisis for women’s health and families in the world, especially in low-income countries. Globally, the number of women dying from pregnancy and childbirth is lower than deaths due to cervical cancer. “The decline in MMR (Maternal Mortality Rate) in Indonesia dropped from 306 cases per 100,000 live births in 2015 to 186 cases per 100,000 live births in 2020. This has shifted new attention to cervical cancer,” said Prof. dr. Siswanto Agus Wilopo, S.U., M.Sc., ScD in the opening of this Guest Lecture.
Prof. Linda Bennett together with Prof. dr. Siswanto Agus Wilopo, S.U., M.Sc., ScD (Center for Reproductive Health FK-KMK UGM), Prof. Barbara McPake, Setyani Marta Dewi, and Andi Halfpapp (Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne), and Prof. Lenore Manderson (School of Public Health, University Witwatersrand) compiled a Policy Brief through research entitled Indonesia’s Progress in Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cervical Cancer: Recommendations for National Policy Implementation.
The national strategy for cervical cancer eradication in Indonesia is as follows:
- Provision of clear guidelines on health promotion
- Pre-cancer screening using VIA and Pap-smear
- Appropriate referral pathways
- Provision of standardized facilities and equipment at the primary care level
- Health worker accreditation training
- Technical guidelines for pre-cancer screening and management using cryotherapy
- Clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of women with stage 1 to stage 4 cervical cancer
Cervical cancer eradication is one of the efforts to realize the SDGs through good health and well-being. If recommendations and implementation of national policies go well, the mortality rate of women due to cervical cancer can decrease, thereby improving the quality of life of the community. (Nirwana/Reporter)
