| Autor: |
Alfaro K; Basic Health International, Pittsburgh, PA 15205, USA., Soler M; Basic Health International, Pittsburgh, PA 15205, USA.; Ob/Gyn and Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA., Maza M; Cancer Program, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC 20037, USA., Flores M; Comité Asesor de Prácticas en Inmunizaciones de El Salvador, San Salvador C.P. 01101, El Salvador., López L; Basic Health International, Pittsburgh, PA 15205, USA., Rauda JC; Basic Health International, Pittsburgh, PA 15205, USA., Chacón A; Unidad de Cáncer, Ministerio de Salud de El Salvador, San Salvador C.P. 01101, El Salvador., Erazo P; Unidad de Cáncer, Ministerio de Salud de El Salvador, San Salvador C.P. 01101, El Salvador., Villatoro N; Unidad de Cáncer, Ministerio de Salud de El Salvador, San Salvador C.P. 01101, El Salvador., Mumenthaler E; Basic Health International, Pittsburgh, PA 15205, USA., Masch R; Basic Health International, Pittsburgh, PA 15205, USA., Conzuelo G; Basic Health International, Pittsburgh, PA 15205, USA., Felix JC; Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA., Cremer M; Basic Health International, Pittsburgh, PA 15205, USA.; Ob/Gyn and Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. |
| Abstrakt: |
Cervical cancer is preventable through vaccination, early detection, and the treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. However, global inequalities mean that the disease remains a leading cause of cancer death around the world, with over 80% of new cases and 90% of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In El Salvador, joint efforts between the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the non-profit organization Basic Health International (BHI) have been in place since 2008, with the goal of reducing the country's disease burden. While the World Health Organization's (WHO) call to action to eliminate cervical cancer provided worldwide momentum to implement new public health initiatives, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted ongoing programs and jeopardized plans for the future. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the progress that El Salvador has achieved in improving cervical cancer prevention, the impact of the pandemic on current strategies, and potential solutions that can help the country meet the WHO's strategic targets by 2030 to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer. |
