China donates cervical cancer screening equipment to Guyana

China, through its Medical Brigade, has donated US$100,000 worth of equipment to assist Guyana in boosting cervical cancer screening and detection.

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, handed over the equipment on Friday to the country’s main health facility, Georgetown Public Hospital.

Cervical cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer deaths among Guyanese women, and Guyana has cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates nearly twice the level seen for the Latin American and Caribbean region.

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Guo Haiyan and Guyana’s Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony (centre) with members of the Chinese Medical Brigade during the handing-over ceremony. (GNNL photo)

Among the items donated were an electronic colloscope set, HPV testing kits, plate sealers, absorbent papers, vortex mixers, an HPV test system, an HPV collection medium, and specimen rocks.

Ambassador Guo said the equipment will supplement the cervical cancer screening programme that is being implemented in Guyana and supported by the medical brigade.

Guyana’s Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, said the donation will enhance the work that the ministry particularly as it relates to cervical cancer.

Guyana is aiming to have 70 percent of the women who are of eligible age screened for cervical cancer.