The Ministry of Health told what prevention was created in Belarus against the human papillomavirus and hepatitis

An important area of prevention of cancer remains the fight against infections that can provoke the development of malignant neoplasms. Belarus has joined the international strategy to eliminate cervical cancer, one of the key tools of which was vaccination against human papillomavirus. Since 2025, the vaccine has been included in the National Vaccination Calendar and is available free of charge to girls aged 11. This was during a press conference “Early diagnosis and prevention: how to preserve the health of the nation and defeat oncology”, said the head of the specialized medical care department of the Ministry of Health Inna Wozniak.

- Vaccination is already showing high efficacy in terms of coverage. Since the autumn of last year, girls born in 2014 have been vaccinated. Nearly 89% of girls were vaccinated with the first dose, and about 85% completed the full course. Girls born in 2015 are being vaccinated this year, and preliminary results also indicate a good pace of campaigning. This measure allows you to form protection against the most oncogenic types of human papillomavirus long before possible infection. This is of fundamental importance for the prevention of cervical cancer, as well as a number of other cancers associated with HPV infection.

Equally important is the prevention of viral hepatitis. The hepatitis B vaccine is also included in the National Vaccination Calendar. Immunization begins almost from the moment of birth of the child and for many years confirms its effectiveness. As for viral hepatitis C, there are modern direct-acting antiviral drugs that allow to achieve complete elimination of the virus from the human body. Doctors remind that both viral hepatitis are serious risk factors for cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. Later treatment reduces the chances: the Ministry of health explained why early diagnosis of cancer is important