The Health Bureau (SSM) announced in a statement on Monday that its free cervical cancer screening and HPV* vaccination services will continue to be provided to female residents, aiming to achieve “early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment,” through the screening for major cancers, aiming to increase the cure rate for the disease.
Meanwhile, the 2025 “Anti-Cancer Battle” online quiz with prizes (Winter Edition) was launched on Monday, and “Women’s Health Consultation Stations” will be set up at 11 locations across Macau tomorrow and on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., featuring on-site health consultations, interactive games, and informational displays to raise awareness among female residents about regular cervical and breast cancer screenings, as well as mental health, the statement said, adding that participants who attend the event in person will receive a gift.
According to the statement, November 17 has been designated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as “Elimination of Cervical Cancer Day”, aimed at raising public awareness and action towards the goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2030.
The statement added that the Health Bureau’s efforts in promoting effective cervical cancer screening services and HPV vaccination programmes have led to a significant reduction in both the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer by 30 percent in recent years.
As a result, cervical cancer has dropped from the fifth to the eighth most common cancer among women in Macau by 2023, with 32 new cases of invasive cancer** and 43 cases of carcinoma in situ***(crude incidence rates of 8.8 and 11.9 per 100,000 women, respectively), according to the Macau Cancer Registry Annual Report 2023, with a total of 75 new cases and 3 deaths (crude mortality).
The statement pointed out that in order to further reduce the risk of cervical cancer, the government included the HPV vaccine in its vaccination programme in 2013, providing free vaccinations to female residents under the age of 18, adding that as of last month, over 40,000 female residents have completed their vaccinations. For instance, the HPV vaccination rate among 13-year-old female residents exceeded 95 percent between 2022 and 2024.
Since cervical cancer often shows no symptoms in its early stages, regular screening is crucial. For early detection and prevention, asymptomatic female residents aged 21 to 65 who are sexually active are advised to schedule free cervical cancer screenings by scanning the QR code provided or through the “Macau One Account” App, according to the statement.
* HPV vaccination is the administration of a vaccine to protect against infection by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that can cause various cancers and genital warts. The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a DNA virus from the Papillomaviridae family and is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) globally. The term “papilloma” refers to a kind of wart that results from some HPV types. – DeepSeek
** Invasive cancer is defined by its ability to break through its initial tissue boundaries and infiltrate the surrounding body structures. – DeepSeek
***Carcinoma in situ is the earliest, non-invasive form of cancer, completely contained at its site of origin. Its timely detection and removal are crucial to preventing it from progressing into a dangerous, invasive disease. - DeepSeek
This poster provided by the Health Bureau (SSM) yesterday shows its free cervical cancer screening services and HPV vaccination programmes’ registration procedure by scanning the QR code. The poster’s message is “Eliminate cervical cancer!”
