New Vaccine To Protect Against Cervical Cancer
By Nasroul Hizam

Bandar Seri Begawan - Women of Brunei Darussalam can now breathe a sigh of relief as GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Sdn Bhd has unveiled a vaccine to protect against cervical cancer commonly caused by the Human Papilloma virus (HPV) types 16 and 18.

About 140 guests made up of doctors, nurses and pharmacists attended the medical lecture at the Rizqun International Hotel by invited speakers, Dr Hjh Roselina Dato Paduka Hj Yaakub, Head of Child and Women Services from the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (Ripas) Hospital and Dr Soon Ruey, Obstetrician and Gynaecology consultant from Likas Hospital, Sabah.

Dr Hjh Roselina spoke on the status of cervical cancer as encountered by Ripas hospital, while Dr Soon delivered "Targeting Broad and Sustained Protection Against Cervical Cancer".

The event was also to introduce a product that has been approved in Malaysia and the first and only HPV vaccine for females between the ages of 10 to 45. The HPV vaccine has been in the Malaysian and Bruneian market since January this year and is available in most private clinics and hospitals.

Tracy Giam, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical's professional medical representative, recommended that for the three dosages at zero, one and six months, women speak to their doctors to get more information.

She shared with The Brunei Times that the common misconception is that cervical cancer is sexually transmitted but research has proven that the root of the problem is in fact persistent oncogenic HPV infections. According to her, awareness of cervical cancer is still at a low level.

Recent statistics have shown that around 500,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 270,000 women die from it annually worldwide, which is equivalent to a woman dying every two minutes. Vaccine, a medical journal stated that cervical cancer is "one of the most common malignancies in women world-wide and virtually all are associated with HPV infection".

Out of the 40 different types of HPV that infects the genital tract in human beings, 15 have been identified as oncogenic or 'high risk' as they are associated with the development of cervical cancer.

Accounting for approximately 70 per tent of cervical cancer cases worldwide, HPV types 16 and 18 have been identified as carcinogenic in the cervix.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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