WOMEN RECEIVE HPV-DNA TESTS AT BELAIR HEALTH CENTRE
While an API release states that over forty (40) women have undergone free HPV-DNA testing at the Belair Health Centre as part of a current pilot study in eight (8) health centres across St. Vincent. The Ministry of Health have confirmed that hundreds have been screened and treated.
According to Staff Nurse Zakiyah Mofford, the other seven (7) Centres that offer the HPV-DNA testing are as follows Barrouallie Smart Health Centre; Levi Latham Health Complex; Buccament and Stubbs Polyclinics; Calliaqua Health Centre; Georgetown Modern Medical Diagnostic Centre; and the Sandy Bay Health Centre.
The pilot study targets women between the ages of 30 – 60 years old, Mofford stated. She advised younger women to get an annual Pap smear. While the procedure for both the HPV-DNA test and pap smear is the same, Health Nursing Supervisor, Shelly-Ann Alexander-Ross, explained that each test returns different results. Alexander-Ross said a pap smear identifies abnormal cervical cells that could become precancerous, “but doesn’t detect the virus itself,” whereas an HPV-DNA test identifies high-risk HPV strains.
“For the HPV testing, we are actually looking for the virus or trying to detect the particular virus, the high-risk ones, … 18 and 15, that… puts you at a greater risk of developing cervical cancer,” Alexander-Ross stated.
Alexander-Ross said that women should expect their HPV-DNA test results within two (2) to three (3) weeks. She stressed that early detection is key and urged women to get on board for the test. If there are pre-cancerous cells, “the patient will be referred to the Outpatient Clinic at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, where treatment and follow-up will take place,” the Health Nursing Supervisor disclosed. Treatment and follow-up medical procedures will be taken care of at no cost to the patient, she emphasised.