The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation’s Project #RAKNEVYROK: What You Need to Know About the Papilloma Virus and Its Danger

The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation together with VOGUE magazine and with support from TSUM Kyiv continues its All-Ukrainian project #RAKNEVYROK. Its goal is to provide psychological support to those fighting the disease and also to remind Ukrainian women about the importance of regular health examinations because early diagnostics save lives and health. Within the framework of the project #RAKNEVYROK, the country’s best healthcare specialists give their advice on how to accept the diagnosis and start fighting the disease.

Oncogynaecologist Olha Bilodid became the expert of the next broadcast of the project. According to her, the human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the frequent factors that can lead to cancer. Therefore, you need to take care of your health in advance.

‘Human papilloma virus or HPV is the most studied factor for one of the most common types of cancer of the female reproductive system. This is cervical cancer and this was absolutely proven in 2007. Almost immediately, a vaccine was developed and the world received a treatment method against this disease. Developed countries have been actively vaccinating their populations for 14 years now,’ said Olha Bilodid.
She explained that the HPV vaccine is also available in Ukraine, but its use is not mandatory.

‘Thanks to such platforms, as the one the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation presented today, we can reach out to women and men with the information that they can take care of their children today. At the age from nine to 15 years old, before the beginning of sexual activity, children and teenagers can be vaccinated against HPV. Ukrainians are privileged as in our country a very high-quality vaccine is available today,’ Olha Bilodid emphasized.

The expert added that HPV is not only about women. Four years ago, the results of a study confirmed that there is a similar threat to men.
‘HPV can cause cancer localized in several body parts for both men and women. These are the external and internal genital organs, the area of the anus and the oropharynx. We have the vaccine, but we do not get vaccinated with it. This is a catastrophe. If we all get vaccinated, the nation will forget about such a major challenge as cervical cancer.’

The project #RAKNEVYROK is also meant to show by the example of real stories of its heroines that life after diagnosis is possible and cancer can be defeated.

You can leave your story by following the link https://akhmetovfoundation.org/ru/rinat-ahmetov-poryatunok-zhyttiv/project/raknevyrok.

Project #RAKNEVYROK of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation became a logical extension of the program CANCER CAN BE CURED. The Foundation launched this program in 2008, and it became the first and largest program in Ukraine to provide assistance to adult cancer patients. Thanks to this programme, about 400,000 Ukrainians received help (in total, about 1.2 million people in Ukraine suffer from cancer). This help in particular included the procurement of diagnostic equipment for oncology centres in Ukraine and equipment for complex operations, the launch of mobile women’s consultation clinics and much more. Every fourth citizen of Ukraine has access to modern diagnostic equipment provided by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation to the country’s healthcare institutions.