(Then24.com) A study in which our country participates seeks to ensure that the mortality from cervical cancer decreases by 30% between now and 2030, and be completely eradicated in the long term.
It is about the Emulticenter screening and triage study using the human papillomavirus test (ESTAMPA) which is being carried out in 50 thousand women from 9 Latin American countries.
Particularly in Costa Rica, there are approximately 10,000 women between the ages of 30 and 64, who are participating in the research, that is, 20% of the entire study are Costa Ricans.
The research is promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Therefore, the country seeks to align itself with the goals of the medical organization.
“With great pride we can affirm that the CCSS has highly trained personnel to carry out an investigation of this level. And, thanks to the analysis and data obtained, it will be possible to positively change the way in which this disease is addressed, both in our country and in all of Latin America and in the rest of the world as well,” said Marta Esquivel, executive president of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS).
According to the official, the objective of the project is based on the search for best tests for early detection of cervical cancer in the female population.
In fact, the first results presented by the institution this Wednesday, within the framework of International Women’s Day, show that the screening for the detection of HPV carried out by the country has an effectiveness of 96%.
While the Pap smear, gives a 40% effectiveness in detection of this virus that causes cervical cancer, or cervical cancer.
Every year, in our country, between 330 and 350 cases are diagnosed, of which, on average, 140 women unfortunately die in that period while battling the disease.
“Today no one should die from cervical cancer, since it is probably the only cancer that is 100% preventable. Having this evidence will allow us to save women’s lives,” said Dr. Alejandro Calderón Céspedes, principal investigator of the project.
This first stage of the study carried out in the Central Pacific of the country, for being the region with the greatest epidemiological impact from cervical cancer.
However, according to the doctor, the next step is to work on the implementation of a program as such detection of this type of cervical cancer at the country level, taking the results obtained so far as a model.
