cervical cancer bill to develop screening and HPV vaccination

cervical cancer bill to develop screening and HPV vaccination

Cervical cancer ids a deadly chronic disease whose specific cure, just like other cancer types, is yet to be determined. The diseases is prevalent in women even though the virus causing the diseases is found in men. The United States, in conjunction with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation foresee a future that is cervical cancer free is the public and states governors will agree to the bill. The bill intends to develop a successful cervical cancer screening program alongside the vaccination for the Human Papilloma Virus. The diseases is widespread in the United States, Australia, Europe, and fearfully the underdeveloped countries in the Sub-Saharan and entire Africa. In as much as the United States and other developed countries may afford cancer screening equipment and services, the underdeveloped countries cannot. They need funding for the program to be implemented. As such, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the Sub-Saharan offers free screening services to vulnerable groups. It also offers civic education to members of the public to beware of their reproductive health. The approximate number of women who die of cervical cancer is 265,000 annually across the world. The essay examines the cervical cancer bill to develop screening and HPV vaccination.

Severity of the Problem.

A background knowledge of cervical cancer indicates that the disease affects women who are sexually active. It is highly preventable through precancerous screening and vaccination. This type of cancer is caused by presence of the Human Papilloma virus in the female’s cervix which leads to proliferation of cancerous cells in the cervix. There are no early symptoms of cercal cancer. However, signs of thick secretions may be seen in the early stages of the disease. The virus is carried by men and is only transferred to females during sexual intercourse. A consensus of the severity of this disease shows that women aged between 30 and 49 are highly affected as they are the most sexually active.

In an attempt to deal with this disease, researchers recommend four main ways of preventing transmission of the HPV virus. First, the World Health Organization recommends HPV vaccination to be administered on girls aged between 98 and 13 years. At this age, the girls are yet to be sexually active. Second, it advisable for countries to create health awareness programs for both girls and boys to adopt safe ways when copulating or to possibly postpone the time to become sexually active. Second, sexually active people should be availed with condoms at their convenience and for free to encourage protective, means of copulating. Third, encouraging male circumcision on all children as well as adult men who skipped the transition. Lastly, educating young people against the use of tobacco which is a causative agent for cancer of other types including cervical cancer. In the absence of appropriate intervention, the morbidity and mortality rates will keep escalating beyond control for young and older women.

Overview of the Bill

The intent of the cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination bill is to reduce the mortality rates that result from this disease. The bill provides that there will be free cancer screening for every citizen in the United States It also provides that there will be adequate civic education for vulnerable members of the public. Moreover, the bill provides for the focus of prevention measures through vaccination on girls aged between 9 and 13 before sexual activity. Cancer screening shall target women aged between 30 and 49 years. These women shall receive treatment if diagnosed with cancer of any type. Three different types of tests shall be availed that is the liquid-based cytology and Pap smear test, Visual Inspection with acetic acid, and testing for HPV for high risk types. The bill shall also focus to reach out on developing countries in Africa including Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya to provide affordable cancer screening and cryotherapy treatment to affected women through mobile outreach with relevant national health ministries. The affected stakeholders are mainly young girls and older women.

Promises

The promoters of this bill include the United States national government, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, PSI Foundation, Marie Stopes Foundation, International Federation of Planned Parenthood, Population Services Kenya, Society for Family Nigeria, and the World Health Organization. The promoters believe that cervical cancer can be prevented and that the future generation is likely to be cancer free. They also believe that screening during precancerous stages will enable early treatment thus managing the condition. Nonetheless, they strongly believe that prevention through HPV vaccination and civic education is the surest way to end or reduce cervical cancer. If the bill is passed, there are chances that the United States with the stated programs will achieve screening for at least 1.7 women annually with treatment for at least 137,000 victims diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Problems

The bill is likely to face resistance from illiterate members of public in developing countries who presume that it is a way of decreasing the birth rate in African countries. Politicians and economists in developed countries like the US may also oppose the bill regarding the costs involved in the implementation.

Unintended Consequences

There are chances where the HPV vaccine administration may cause reproductive problems on the young girls. However, there is no scientific proof on the tangibility of the impact.

Recommendations

In the end, it is recommended that the promoters should convince those rejecting the bill for the benefits attached.