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Cancer News | Dubai |
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Cervical cancer is preventable through vaccination
and screening
By Debasree
S., Contributing Editor
(ArabMedicare.com) Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), a global
research-driven pharmaceutical company, will launch a countrywide
educational campaign to educate UAE women about the importance of its
newly-introduced vaccine, Gardasil, to prevent the incidence of cervical
cancer.
Dr. Wissam Haddadin, Medical Advisor and Franchise Manager, MSD Gulf --
distributors of the Gardasil vaccine in the UAE -- in an exclusive
interview with ArabMedicare.com divulged that plans are afoot to educate
women and health professionals about the perils associated with the
world's second largest cause of cancer among women.
Cervical cancer is primarily caused by the HPV Papilloma virus and kills
approximately 800 women daily, worldwide. Currently, 2.3 million women
have been diagnosed with the killer disease. In the UAE, the country's
Cancer Registry Program revealed that the annual average of the reported
cervical cancer cases has tripled in 2005 when compared with that from
1998-2004.
"The alarming increase in the incidence of cervical cancer in the
UAE underscores the need for awareness and preventive screening"
said Dr. Wissam highlighting that the administration of the vaccine
and regular screening would be crucial to improving the status of
women's reproductive health in the Middle East.
"The UAE is the first country in the Middle East to acquire the
vaccine, through approvals from the Ministry of Health (MOH)," Dr.
Wissam said. Efforts are also being made to introduce the vaccine in
Lebanon, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt and Jordan while it is already available
in Algeria and Morocco. "The incidence of cervical cancer is high
in the Middle East because of a variety of factors: women get sexually
active much earlier, heavy incidence of smoking and a high rate of
fertility. So it is important to partner with health and educational
institutions to get the message across a cross-section of people,"
Dr. Wissam explained.
"Cervical cancer is a highly preventable form of cancer and the
administration of the Gardasil vaccine in the age between 9-26 years can
greatly reduce the rate of mortality among women. Studies have shown
that the vaccine is particularly affective for women between 9-26 years
and studies are still being conducted to establish its efficacy in the
26-45 years age-group. The highest incidence of cervical cancer is in
the 35-55 years age group."
The vaccine costs Dhs 622 and is available at all private health clinics
and hospitals. "We are also trying to partner with the Ministry of
Health to make it mandatory in the government hospitals in the UAE
too," Dr. Wissam explained. All women in the UAE above the age of
21 who are sexually active should be encouraged to undergo preventive
screening every three years. The cancer is preventable but only if it's
diagnosed in the earlier stages.
It was recently announced that Professor Ian Frazer, Director of the
University of Queensland's Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research (CICR),
Australia, has been nominated as a potential candidate for the Noble
Prize Awards, due to his creation of the first and only vaccine against
cervical cancer - Gardasil.
Gardasil is distributed by MSD in 50 countries around the world.
"We are proud to have placed the UAE on the map with leading
countries such as the US, Australia and EU," Dr. Wissam said.
Gardasil is a ready-to-use, three-dose vaccine and should be
administered in three injections in the upper arm or upper thigh over a
six-month period.
The following dosage schedule is recommended: first dose at elected
date, second dose two months after the first dose, and the third dose
should be administered six months after the first dose. The health care
provider should inform the patient, parent or guardian that vaccination
does not substitute routine cervical cancer screening. Women who receive
Gardasil should continue to undergo cervical cancer screening.
MSD currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines
and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The company is dedicated
to making medicines accessible through far-reaching programs that not
only donate medicines but help deliver them to the people who really
need them.
Source: ArabMedicare.com
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Dr. Wissam Haddadin, Medical Advisor and Franchise Manager, MSD Gulf
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Cervical
Cancer Fact Sheet
