Hundreds of travelers who transited the Leuseni border were informed about the importance of cervical cancer prevention through cytological testing and vaccination against HPV infection. The action took place during the launching event of the 2025 Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. The organizers aimed to urge women who cross the border to prioritize prevention and access the available nationwide cervical cancer prevention services, thus contributing to the reduction of cervical cancer cases in the country.
Representatives of the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova, the Ministry of Health, UNFPA, WHO, and the Association of Free Trade Unions "PUBLICSIND" had opening remarks at the beginning of the event.
"It is a tragedy that currently there are still women losing their lives due to an easily preventable disease. I urge all women to go to the doctor, have a Pap test, and make sure they are healthy. I also encourage all mothers to vaccinate their girls and boys against HPV, giving them strong protection and immunity against cervical cancer in the future," said Angela Paraschiv, State Secretary, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova.
Natalia Plugaru, UNFPA Deputy Representative, noted that UNFPA has been providing support to the Ministry of Health and the people of the Republic of Moldova for 30 years, highlighting within the event the organization's contribution to cervical cancer prevention at the national level.
"With UNFPA support, the National Colposcopy Network has been created, which includes 12 Colposcopy Offices all over the country, connected through a digital network. At the same time, 200 gynecological examination rooms within the primary health care institutions have been equipped with UNFPA support with modern medical equipment adapted including to the needs of women with locomotor disabilities. This makes the preventive Pap test accessible to all women and which could be done free of charge at the primary healthcare level. UNFPA remains committed to continuing its support to the health system's efforts to ensure that every girl and woman in Moldova stays healthy" said Natalia Plugaru.
"Today we mark a special moment that underlines how important it is to take care of our health and how essential prevention is to saving lives. It is an honor that this year, for the first time, the Customs Office is hosting the launch of the Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. This initiative reflects our commitment as an institution not only to border security, but also to people's well-being. Prevention and education remain the most powerful tools to build a healthier future, and together we can contribute to a more informed and responsible society," said Radu Radu, Deputy Director of the Moldovan Customs Service.
"Cervical cancer knows no borders, and neither should our actions. We need to build cross-border networks together to ensure that all women have equal access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services. Imagine a future where no woman loses her life due to a disease, we know we can prevent. This is not just a vision - it is something we can achieve, if we act today. Let us unite our efforts for a Moldova where every woman has access to quality health care, every girl is vaccinated, and where cervical cancer is a disease of the past," said Dr. Miljana Grbic, World Health Organization Representative in Moldova.
The event was also organized in partnership with the Association of Free Trade Unions "PUBLICSIND," which significantly contributes to increasing the awareness on cervical cancer prevention of women members from the 54 institutions that are part of the association (65% of which are women).
"Many employees do not check regularly their health status by going to the doctor - due to a lack of time, being forced to prioritize professional activities. The trade unions underline the importance of including clauses in collective bargaining agreements that guarantee the right of female employees to receive paid time off for medical check-ups. In this way, employees will be able to allocate the necessary time for these medical investigations without being affected financially, or professionally" said Viorica Soroceanu, President of the Association of Free Trade Unions "PUBLICSIND."
Participants who wore themed vests, together with the customs officials on duty, handed out information leaflets on cervical cancer prevention, to travelers.
The event was organized at the border, as daily, around 10,000 cars pass through border checkpoints across the country, and women make up about half of the travelers. Many of these women go abroad to work and periodically return home, and it is of the utmost importance to inform them about the opportunity to have a free cytology test performed in the Republic of Moldova when they visit their family doctor.
In addition, the men who crossed the border were sensitized to pass on the information to their loved ones, encouraging women to prioritize their health and have a cytology test done every three years.
At the same time as the launching event at Leuseni, information leaflets are distributed at all border checkpoints. Thus, during the entire Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, all women crossing the border will have the opportunity to receive essential information on cervical cancer prevention.
The event was organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, by the Unit for Coordination of the Cervical Screening Implementation, in partnership with the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova, the PUBLICSIND Free Trade Union Association, and UNFPA. The openness of all partners in supporting efforts to inform the population about the importance of cervical cancer prevention is confirmation that health is and must be a priority for the whole of society and all sectors of the national economy.
The coverage rate of the Pap test screening has seen a significant increase in the Republic of Moldova, from 36% in 2021 to 61% in 2024, with a relatively constant value over the last two years. Also, the rate of cervical precancerous lesions treatment showed an upward trend, increasing from 26% in 2021 to 89% in 2024. However, both achievements remain below the targets set by the WHO, which recommends that 70% of women in the target population should be screened and 90% of women diagnosed with precancerous cervical lesions should receive timely treatment.
According to data of the Oncological Institute of the Republic of Moldova, 338 new cases of cervical cancer were registered in 2024 (including data from the left bank of the Dniester River), of which 203 women were detected within the Cervical Screening program - through cytological testing performed at the level of family doctors and, as needed, via colposcopy performed in Colposcopy Offices throughout the country. This confirms the essential role of cytology testing at the primary health care level and of colposcopy performed as close as possible to women's places of residence in early diagnosis, which also determines the chance of successful treatment of precancerous lesions.
Another essential pillar of cervical cancer prevention is HPV vaccination. The vaccine is available free of charge to girls and boys between the ages of 9 and 14 and provides effective protection against HPV.
Women aged 25-61 are strongly encouraged to go to their family doctor for a free Pap test every three years.
