Fibroid surgeries among planned interventions for women’s health – President Ali

As part of investments to improve the quality of lives of women in Guyana, President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Wednesday night announced that the government will provide surgeries to all women currently grappling with fibroids.

“Beginning this year, we are going to clear the entire backlog of women who require surgery in this area,” President Ali said at an International Women’s Day event hosted at State House.

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, symptoms of fibroids include heavy and prolonged periods, bleeding between periods, pressure in the abdomen and pelvic pain.

Beyond this focus, the President also said the government will be investing in eliminating cervical cancer. Because cervical cancer is a preventable disease, Dr. Ali said the government will ensure each girl in Guyana is tested.

Aside from testing, local health authorities also offer the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine to protect people from cervical cancer and other cancers.

HPV is one of the most common sexually-transmitted viruses and causes cervical cancer, the second more prevalent cancer in Guyanese women.

Meanwhile, President Ali also assured the gathering of women that health facilities across the country will be upgraded and better staffed.

Technology, he said too, is being harnessed to boost services provided in rural and hinterland areas. The government’s new telemedicine venture, which connects remote health centres to the Georgetown Public Hospital, is one new technological intervention the President said is being harnessed to improve healthcare delivery.