The BVI Ministry of Health and Social Development has completed a technical consultancy and national stakeholder consultation with the Pan American Health Organization to support development of a National Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy.
The PAHO team visited selected primary-care facilities and the National Laboratory at Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital. The consultation brought together government, BVI Health Services Authority, healthcare, civil-society and professional representatives to identify gaps and priorities in vaccination, screening, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and surveillance.
Health Minister Vincent Wheatley told the House of Assembly that the territory's HPV vaccination program has maintained coverage above 90 percent among its target population of girls for at least two consecutive years. That is the government's reported program measure; the final strategy still needs to set baselines and targets for screening, treatment and follow-up.
The initiative aligns with the World Health Organization's 2030 goals of vaccinating 90 percent of girls by age 15, screening 70 percent of women with a high-performance test by ages 35 and 45, and treating 90 percent of women identified with cervical disease. The consultation is a planning milestone, not confirmation that a final BVI strategy or implementation timetable is in force.
The ministry should publish the draft strategy, local screening and treatment baselines, responsible agencies, measurable annual targets and an implementation calendar for public review.
Source published October 26, 2026; official release does not display a publication time. Read the original reporting or release for the complete record.
Open original source