Encourage Early Detection Of Cervical Cancer, DNA HPV Screening Is Carried Out By Independent Sample Method

JAKARTA - HPV screening (Human Papillomavirus) is one of the crucial steps in preventing cervical cancer which is one of the main causes of women's deaths from cancer.

In an effort to expand early detection coverage, a sampling method is introduced independently to increase community participation, especially in areas that have limited health services.

The Indonesian Ministry of Health is working with a number of stakeholders to conduct a DNA HPV screening project in Surabaya. This program targets 5,500 women with their own sampling approach which is considered more practical and comfortable, as a solution to the low level of participation in conventional screening.

According to Maryjane Lacoste, Country Director of Jhypiego Indonesia, this innovation supports the national target of eradicating cervical cancer, which targets 75 percent of women aged 30 to 69 years to have carried out regular screening.

"As of 2023, the coverage of cervical cancer screening has only reached around 7 percent. We hope this approach will be able to significantly increase this number," said Maryjane during the launch event in Surabaya, East Java, as quoted by ANTARA.

He explained that this method allows women to do servical swabs independently, both at the puskesmas and at home. Samples can then be sent to the laboratory for further analysis, opening screening access for women living in areas with limited access to health facilities.

Many women feel reluctant to follow conventional methods such as pap smear or IVA for reasons of discomfort or shame. With this new approach, we want to remove these obstacles," he explained.

This project targets two locations with different characteristics: Surabaya as a representation of urban areas and Sidoarjo for rural areas. In Sidoarjo, around 923 women will be discriminated using the swab method carried out by medical personnel, so that the total trial participants reach more than 6,400 women.

Samples from participants in Surabaya were processed using Roche's 5800 Cobas automatic engine at the Surabaya Labkesda. Meanwhile in Sidoarjo, the processing was carried out manually in the laboratory in Mojokerto.

In addition to the technical aspects of sampling and checking samples, this project also provides health cadres with special training so that they are able to convey the results of screening correctly and assist patients in follow-up such as thermal ablation or follow-up referrals to hospitals.

This screening activity is planned to last until October 2025, including early education, examination, and therapy for detected participants experiencing pre-cancer lesion. The final report of the project will be published in December 2025, as an evaluation material and formulation of national policies in the field of cervical cancer prevention.

"Early detection is key. Cervical cancer can be prevented 100 percent if found in the precancer stage and immediately treated. This project is a concrete effort to save more Indonesian women from disease that can actually be avoided," said Maryjane.