Issues of conducting research work to improve the diagnosis and control of the spread of human papillomavirus among the population in the regions of the republic

The Agency for Information and Mass Communications, together with the Republican Service for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health and the Research Institute of Virology, are holding a press conference on the topic: “Issues of conducting research work to improve the diagnosis and control of the spread of the human papillomavirus among the population in the regions of the republic.”

Representatives of the Ministry of Health, the South Korean KOFIH Foundation, the Tashkent city and regional departments of the SES Service and the World Organization of Medical Centers, Infectious Disease Clinics and the media are taking part in the conference.

According to WHO, cervical cancer is registered for the first time every year in more than 530 thousand women worldwide, of which 190 thousand die from this disease.

As noted at the press conference, cervical cancer in Uzbekistan, as well as throughout the world, is the second most common cancer among women of all ages after breast cancer. In terms of mortality from diseases, cervical cancer ranks third among breast and stomach cancer deaths among women of all ages, and uterine cancer deaths rank second among women of childbearing age (15-44 years).

In Uzbekistan, an average of 1,700-1,800 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year. More than 42 percent of them die each year. Most of these deaths occur as a result of late diagnosis. The main cause of cervical cancer (98-99%) is the human papillomavirus (OPV).

By the Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated 04.04.2017 No. 2866, the program “Further development of oncology services and improvement of oncology care to the population in the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2017-2021” was approved. This program provides for preventive and screening studies of oncological diseases, the formation of a single database of patients with oncological diseases (Chancellor Register), monitoring the epidemiological situation with the development of effective programs for the prevention of oncological diseases.

In order to monitor the epidemiological situation, it is planned to implement an investment pilot project "Improving the capabilities for detecting human papillomavirus and diagnosing cervical cancer among women in the regions of the republic, including in the city of Tashkent, Samarkand and Andijan regions" in cooperation with the Research Institute of Virology and the South Korean KOFIH Foundation with the participation of 50,000 women. This project will be implemented within 3 years.

The main goal of this project is the prevention of cancer through early detection of diseases caused by the human papillomavirus among women, and the study of the significance of screening for the 2nd risk factor for cancer, i.e. by determining the percentage of prevalence of highly oncogenic types of OPV among women of childbearing age.

The expected results of the pilot project were also announced at the press conference.

The following results are expected from the pilot project implemented in the republic:

* The spread of HPV in Uzbekistan is being studied for the first time at the republican level.

• 3 special laboratories are being created to study HPV.
• The system will be created for the early diagnosis of HPV and cervical cancer.
• Standards and practical guidelines for the detection of HPV, prevention and treatment of cancer will be developed, corresponding to the world standard.
• Early diagnosis and treatment of HPV lead to a decrease in the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer.

To this end, in the republic, together with the Research Institute of Virology and the South Korean KOFIH Foundation, screening processes are ongoing in 60 family clinics throughout Tashkent:

1. Central Polyclinic of Yunusabad District;
2. Central Polyclinic of Chilanzar District;
3. Tashkent Central Polyclinic No. 2;

4.Central Polyclinic of Mirzo-Ulugbek District;

5. Central Polyclinic of Yashnabad District;
6. Screening studies for cervical cancer are carried out in the central polyclinics of Shaykhantakhur District uterus.

All women aged 30 to 49 who were on the list were tested for BBR (cervical cancer) free of charge. In Tashkent, more than 6,000 women underwent screening examinations. According to the examination results, 11.7 percent of women were found to have the virus, further examinations of these women will begin in January.

The changes detected during the screening process are monitored by the relevant doctors and the necessary recommendations are given.

The conference ended with questions and answers on the topic. Representatives of the media received answers to all their questions.