Australia was the first country to eliminate the disease through its effort in prevention interventions. In 2010 the first Asian country to introduce a national HPV vaccination program was Malaysia. In 2016 La Maison D’Alice or Alice house from Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundations cancer treatment centre said that in Gabon will provide treatment free of charge to cancer patients who come from the country’s interior. There is an additional cost for accommodation, food and transport which often unaffordable for patience.
As part of their care, the centre provides holistic support including social worker and psychologist to support the patients individually. Physiotherapy sessions and art therapy are included.
Since 2016, 307 patients have been welcomed by Alice house and more women in Gabon have access to enter the cancer care they need. Many countries of the commonwealth still do not have screening programs and preventions for cervical cancer. Many women do not have an accurate information on cervical Cancer and HPV available to them and are burdened by the cost to receive cancer care.
We aspire for a better future which is free of cervical cancer. We must remain United in addressing the wide inequities women in the commonwealth experienced in accessing cervical cancer prevention, treatment services and screening.
