(MINISTRY OF HEALTH CONCLUDES CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH WITH CHURCH SERVICE AND CALL TO EMPOWER SURVIVORS)
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment, and Civil Service Affairs marked the conclusion of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month with a church service on February 1st at the All Saints Pentecostal Kingdom Life Centre, underscoring the national commitment to prevention, early detection, and survivor empowerment.
The service brought together faith leaders, health professionals, survivors, and partners including the Minister, Sir Molwyn Joseph; Permanent Secretary, Stacey Gregg-Paige; Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kamaria DeCastro; Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Teri-Ann Joseph; Head of the Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force, Dr. Cherrie Tulloch, along with members of her team; and other senior technical staff.
Delivering the feature address, Minister Joseph reflected on the month’s theme, “Empower the Survivors,” emphasizing that survivor empowerment must extend beyond awareness into national responsibility and action.
“We are gathered today in this sacred space to conclude Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, but more importantly, to affirm a deeper national commitment to dignity, prevention, compassion, and the protection of life,” the Minister stated.
Drawing from the Gospel of John, chapter 4, the Minister referenced the woman of Samaria, highlighting the transformation from personal experience to public purpose.
“After her encounter with Jesus, she did not retreat into silence. She returned to her community and said, ‘Come and see.’ That moment represents transformation into purpose — from survival to service, from experience to influence.”
Minister Joseph noted that this biblical narrative mirrors the Ministry’s public-health approach to survivor empowerment.
“Survivors are not only recipients of care; they are partners in prevention, education, and transformation. Their voices reduce stigma. Their stories strengthen awareness. Their visibility encourages screening. Their leadership protects future generations.”
The Minister further emphasized that empowering survivors is not symbolic but strategic, strengthening prevention systems, supporting early detection, and building trust in health services. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to systems that expand access to vaccination, including the HPV vaccine, strengthen screening and diagnosis, ensure equitable treatment, provide survivor support, and protect dignity throughout the health journey.
“No woman should suffer from a preventable disease. No family should face loss because of late detection. No survivor should be left unsupported after treatment,” the Minister asserted.
As the service concluded, Minister Joseph called for a shared commitment across church, community, and country to eliminate cervical cancer as a public-health threat and to honour survivors as partners in building a healthier nation.
“May God bless our women. May God strengthen our families. May God guide our leaders. And may God bless Antigua and Barbuda.”
The Ministry continues to encourage women and girls to access screening services and HPV vaccination, which are available at public health clinics across the country, as part of the national strategy to eliminate cervical cancer.
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