Hospital: free cervical cancer tests first ten days of month
THE Siem Reap Provincial Referral Hospital has announced free cervical cancer screening for women aged 25-49 for the first 10 days of this coming December, while also noting that a new building project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency ( JICA) will be completed by the end of September 2023.
Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng inspected the progress of the new facility on November 28, noting that the project was now 28 per cent complete.
He said the expansion is to meet the needs of local people – as well as domestic and international tourists – as the number of patients presenting themselves at the hospital continued to rise.
Bun Heng said Japan’s assistance in the construction of hospital buildings and provision of modern medical equipment has made a significant contribution to improving and expanding services.
“In line with the government’s goals, the expansion of the hospital will modernise health services. When this new facilty is completed, this will be the most modern hospital in the region,” he added.
Japan, through JICA, has provided funding for the four-storey facility, which began construction in December 2021. The building will include specialised surgical theatres and a modern emergency department.
Hospital director Pen Phalkun said new construction demonstrated the close attention that the ministry and provincial health department administration were paying to the provision of high quality healthcare.
At the same time, he also announced the free cervical cancer examinations.
“From December 1 to 10, we will offer cervical cancer examinations to women aged of 25 to 49 years. For more details information, please contact the maternity ward in the hospital during working hours,” he said.
The ministry recently announced the free screenings at health centers and hospitals in Siem Reap and Sotr Nikum operational districts.
“Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women in Cambodia,” it said in a statement.
“Three to four women a day are diagnosed with this cancer, and most of them are too late to treat,” it added.
The ministry’s Department of Health Prevention (DHP) recommends that all woman be vaccinated against cervical cancer and get tested for the disease at an early stage. Abnormal spots on the cervix can be detected by a skilled midwife through a simple examination.
“If an abnormal spot is discovered, it should be treated immediately. The treatment is simple and painless. One year after treatment, women should have a smear test to confirm the treatment was successful,” it said.
According to the ministry, the risk factors for cervical cancer are higher in women with Human Papuloma virus infections, those who are sexually active at a young age, young mothers and those who have more than five children.