More than 600 women from the local communities benefited from this meaningful initiative that facilitated direct conversations between women and two leading obstetrics and gynecology experts on the topics of cervical cancer, the HPV virus (responsible for 99% of cervical cancer cases), and available cervical cancer screening methods for early prevention.

The "Let Her Talk" campaign was first introduced to the public in June 2023, driven by the strong partnership of the Center for Women and Development in North Central Vietnam, the Vietnam Women's Union, the Vietnam Obstetrics and Gynecology Association, together with Roche Vietnam.

This community awareness campaign was intended to support the country’s progress towards the cervical cancer elimination targets set out by the World Health Organization (WHO) and enhancing the health and quality of life for women throughout Vietnam.

Vietnam reports approximately 4,132 new cases and 2,223 deaths from cervical cancer annually, accounting for approximately 54% of all cases. However, only 17% of women aged 25 to 65 have undergone cervical cancer screening within the past three years*. This number still falls short of WHO’s 2030 cervical cancer elimination screening target which is 70% of women are screened with a high-performance test by 35 and 45 years of age.

Stigma, geographic and economic barriers with limited cervical cancers to novel screening methods have contributed to the late detection of many cervical cancer cases, resulting in the reduction of treatment effectiveness and survival rates. Countless women have to undergo uterus removal, losing their ability to conceive and fulfill their maternal roles. The fact is the majority of cervical cancer cases can be prevented through early screening, detection, and treatment of precancerous lesions.

The "Screen for Cervical Cancer Today" events featured Dr. Bui Chi Thuong, Head of the Obstetrics Department of the Gia Dinh People's Hospital, a lecturer at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy and Dr. Pham Ho Thuy Ai, Deputy Head of the Gynecology Department at the Tu Du Hospital.

The events not only equipped the participants with practical and comprehensive knowledge about gynecological health care, but also provided personalized consultations and detailed answers to their questions regarding cervical cancer and various screening methods.

Attending the event, women were also empowered and built up in confidence to proactively protect themselves from cervical cancer. Joining the event, there were local activists who played a crucial role in spreading the positive impact of the campaign to their surrounding communities.

"Raising women's awareness on health care and caring for their wellbeing have always been among our primary focuses, reflected in the execution of the Women's Unions at all levels. When women’s health is ensured, it also means protecting family's happiness, work and financial stability, hence helping to build happy families associated with the implementation of the “Building a 5-zero, 3-clean family” movement,” said Ms. Tran Thi Doan Trang, Vice President of the Women's Union of Thu Duc City.

“The 'Let Her Talk' campaign and the “Screen for Cervical Cancer Today” events are practical initiatives that provide women with condensed and high-quality knowledge about this common gynecological disease. Our women were inspired and motivated to overcome their personal barriers and take firm action to protect their health. We would like to acknowledge the goodwill and partnership of Roche Vietnam and many other associations in the campaign for the better health of women of Thu Duc City and Vietnamese women in general,” she added.

Dr. Qadeer Raza, General Manager of Roche Vietnam, said: "Since the launch of the campaign in June 2023, “Let Her Talk” has been successfully providing thousands of women with valuable knowledge on cervical cancer, and preventive measures available including highly accurate screening methods. These educational resources were made accessible to women through various platforms and channels.”

“It was our honor to collaborate with the Women's Union of Thu Duc City and the Women's Union of District 6, HCMC. Your partnership played a vital role in bridging the campaign and women within your community,” she said.

According to Dr. Qadeer Raza, this year, Roche Vietnam also introduced a new self-sampling method of HPV DNA testing - a primary cervical cancer screening test recommended by both WHO and the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, replacing traditional Pap Smear for women aged 25 and above.

By enabling women to collect their own specimens conveniently at home, this self-sampling method helps them overcome psychological and geographical barriers. These innovative diagnostic solutions, combined with community-awareness initiatives such as the "Let Her Talk" campaign, exemplify Roche's strong commitment to improving women’s health in the country as well as contributing to Vietnam’s cervical cancer elimination goals.

From 2024 to 2026, the 'Let Her Talk' campaign will continue to expand its communication activities and provide health counseling on cervical cancer prevention and early detection for women nationwide. Women are empowered to actively share cervical cancer knowledge within their circles of families and friends. With this, the campaign also positively supports the national action plan for Vietnamese women’s reproductive healthcare.

PV