Round table on the prevalence and prevention of cervical cancer

On 25 November 2024, in the Green Hall of the Library of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, the Faculty of Medicine and Public Health held an interdisciplinary round table on the theme: "Prevalence and prevention of cervical cancer in the world." Students and teachers of the Faculty of Medicine and Public Health of Al-Farabi KazNU and Asfendiyarov KazNMU, experts and employees of the sanitary-epidemiological service of Kazakhstan, about 70 people online and offline, as well as students of Xinjiang Medical University from China, who came to our university on academic mobility, took part in the meeting. Ainagul Kuatbaeva, Director of the Branch' Scientific and Practical Centre for Sanitary and Epidemiological Expertise and Monitoring of RGP on PCV” National Centre for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” welcomed the audience and reported on the beginning of vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) in Kazakhstan. This collaborative effort, with everyone playing their part, is a powerful force in the fight against cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer among women of all ages and the second most common cause of death among women aged 25 to 44 in Kazakhstan. About 1,900 new cases of this disease are registered in the country every year. The human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the leading cause of cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine, as a preventive measure against cervical cancer, was implemented in 135 countries worldwide. The report" Cervical cancer: A Modern View of the Problem" was delivered by Almagul Kurmanova, MD, Head of the Department of General Medical Practice of Al Farabi KazNU, and "Vaccine against Human papillomavirus" by Gauhar Kurmanova, MD, Head of the Department of General Medical Practice of Al Farabi KazNU. Presentations on the wide prevalence of cervical cancer and the effectiveness of vaccination against HPV in the countries of America, Europe, and Asia were made by 2nd-year students of the Faculty of Public Health and MPD KazNMU Zhibek Epen, Alikhan Zhanserik, Alia Seytkazy and 1st-year master's students of KazNU Public Health school Nurai Sarsenbekova, Byan Bolat and Aerxin Saibai. They also noted that vaccination is not freely accessible in all countries, even though it is introduced in the national vaccination program. Master's students of the Chair of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Evidence-based Medicine conducted a study of knowledge about cervical cancer and awareness of HPV vaccination among female students of Al-Farabi KazNU. Nurlan Baisynov reported that most of the participants demonstrated basic knowledge about cervical cancer as a disease, its causes, and prevention methods. 21.1% of female students were vaccinated against HPV at school age, and 73.5% recommend girls and young women to be vaccinated against HPV infection, which is available and free of charge within the framework of the state program. The roundtable participants agreed that the national vaccination program must be promoted through educational institutions, social networks, and health organizations.

         The round table was organized by Farida Iskakova, Anar Daniyarova, Akmaral Abildayeva, and Gulbanu Arynova, who are all esteemed members of the Chair Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Evidence-based Medicine at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.