Public Health launches pilot program to prevent cervical cancer through HPV testing
The Ministry of Public Health of the Dominican Republic has launched an ambitious pilot project that seeks to transform the early detection of cervical cancer. This initiative, focused on strengthening the primary level of care, integrates Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing as the primary screening method, beginning its deployment in the provinces of Elías Piña and Dajabón.
This program is made possible through a strategic collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the technical support of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The fundamental objective is to reduce gaps in access to high-precision health services, especially in rural communities and border areas where medical follow-up is often more complex.
Technical training for cancer elimination
As an initial part of the plan, the authorities conducted an intensive three-day workshop aimed at clinical, epidemiological, and supervisory personnel. The training seeks to create a body of facilitators capable of replicating knowledge on thermal ablation techniques, colposcopy, and health data management in their respective locations.
Cervical cancer is the cancer of inequity and it cannot cease to be a priority for us, the decision-makers. The training is aimed at preparing facilitators who will subsequently replicate the knowledge with the operational staff of their respective provinces.
Tammy Santana, head of the Maternal and Child Program of the Ministry of Public Health.
Towards the 2030 goal
The adoption of this new tracking technology is seen by the National Health Service as a turning point. Martín Ortiz, director of Maternal and Child Health at the NHS, emphasized that these tools will allow for modifying the clinical course of the disease in the national territory. The plan covers not only sample collection, but also triage, diagnosis, treatment, and a digital monitoring system to ensure the follow-up of each patient.
- Initial scope: Elías Piña and Dajabón provinces.
- Technology: High-precision HPV tests.
- Vision: Eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by the year 2030.
The urgency of this measure is based on the country’s health statistics. According to recorded data, cervical cancer remains the second most frequent gynecological cancer in the Dominican Republic, registering hundreds of new cases and deaths each year, a reality that the Ministry of Health seeks to reverse through the decentralization of specialized services toward primary care.
