Screening programs

The patients do not see a doctor until the very last moment when their condition becomes worse. Armenian women are faithful to this slogan.

Since the beginning of this year the Ministry of Healthcare has been implemented screening programs aimed at early detection of non-communicable diseases – cardiovascular, diabetes and cervical cancer in order to be able to detect them and prevent.

If diabetes and high blood pressure have some symptoms, in case of cancer there are no symptoms, but it can be detected by screening programs at an early stage and thereby give a chance to save lives.

Director of the Health Implementation Unit, Family Medicine Development Component Coordinator Yervand Elibekyan notes that from January to September 33 500 women have been examined and in case of 6% of them cytological abnormalities have been detected which does not mean detection of cancer yet.

According to data provided by the National Cancer Institute in 2010, the highest rates of cervical cancer were detected in Shirak – 25,6%, Armavir – 24,2% and Kotayq – 23,3%. The figures were well above in Gegharquniq – 17,6%, Lori and Syuniq – 16,1%.

Full text in Armenian