Papua New Guinea has among the highest estimated deaths for cervical cancer globally.
The country records at least 6 times more new cases each year and 14 times, the death rate.
And while data on cancer in PNG is limited, the Institute of Medical Research notes these alarming statistics.
For women in the country, cervical cancer is one of the top three cancers, affecting them.
The other two are breast cancer and mouth cancer.
Dr Andrew Vallely, is a researcher with PNG IMR for at least 10 years.
He said there were a number of different approaches undertaken over the years to address this cancer and reduce the rates.
However, even though effective in other parts of the world, the approaches were still ineffective to PNG.
Meantime, the country has since rolled out a vaccination program, beginning in Port Moresby.
Dr Vallely said most cancers in PNG were caused by viral infections. For cervical cancer, it was the human papilloma virus or HPV.
The HPV vaccination roll-out targets girls of school-age.
And for females who are older, HPV screenings will be targeted for them.
He said the HPV vaccine could prevent cancer for those vaccinated and the HPV test could be used to identify those at risk to develop cancers.
“So for the next 20 odd years, we will continue screening.”