Cancer is a major public health issue in Papua New Guinea (PNG), with the burden of disease increasing in recent years. Despite this, there is limited research on solutions for increasing coverage of diagnosis, screening and early detection of cancer in PNG. This article aims to review the current evidence on strategies for improving cancer diagnosis, screening and early detection in PNG, with a view to understanding the relative burden of different cancers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 5% of all deaths in PNG are due to cancer, making it one of the leading causes of death in the country. The most common cancers in PNG are cervical cancer, breast cancer, mouth cancer and liver cancer. However, due to limited access to healthcare services and lack of awareness about the importance of early detection and diagnosis, many cases go undetected until they are at an advanced stage.

In order to improve coverage of diagnosis, screening and early detection of cancer in PNG, there is a need for increased investment in healthcare infrastructure and services. This includes improved access to diagnostic services such as imaging technology (e.g., mammography) and laboratory testing (e.g., Pap smears). Additionally, there is a need for increased awareness among healthcare providers about the importance of early detection and diagnosis as well as improved training for healthcare workers on how to diagnose and treat different types of cancers.

In addition to improving access to healthcare services, there is also a need for increased public awareness about the importance of early detection and diagnosis as well as lifestyle changes that can reduce risk factors associated with certain types of cancers (e.g., smoking cessation). This could be achieved through targeted health education campaigns that focus on raising awareness about risk factors associated with different types of cancers as well as providing information about available screening tests and treatments.

Public health awareness campaigns are an important tool for educating the public about health-related issues and promoting healthy behaviors. However, for these campaigns to be effective, they must be carefully planned and executed. Some key strategies for making public health awareness campaigns successful are:

1. It is important to identify the target audience of the campaign. Knowing who the campaign is intended to reach will help determine the most effective messaging and delivery methods. For example, a campaign aimed at teenagers may require different messaging than one aimed at adults. Additionally, it is important to consider cultural and language differences when crafting messages for different audiences.
2. It is essential to create a clear message that resonates with the target audience. The message should be concise and easy to understand, while also conveying a sense of urgency or importance. Additionally, it should be tailored to the specific needs of the target audience in order to maximize its effectiveness.
3. It is important to choose an appropriate delivery method for the message. Different methods may include television or radio advertisements, print materials such as flyers or posters, or online platforms such as social media or websites. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages; therefore, it is important to consider which method will best reach the target audience before deciding on a delivery method.
4. It is essential to measure and evaluate the success of the campaign in order to determine whether changes need to be made in order to improve its effectiveness in future iterations. This can be done by tracking metrics such as website visits or social media engagement as well as conducting surveys or focus groups with members of the target audience in order to gauge their reactions and opinions about the campaign’s messaging and delivery methods.
5. It is important to ensure that there are adequate resources available for implementing and sustaining a public health awareness campaign over time. This includes both financial resources as well as personnel resources such as volunteers who can help spread messages through word-of-mouth or other means of communication. Public health awareness campaigns can be an effective tool for educating people about health-related issues and promoting healthy behaviors if they are carefully planned and executed using strategies such as identifying a target audience; creating a clear message; choosing an appropriate delivery method; measuring success; and ensuring adequate resources are available for implementation and sustainability over time.

Finally, it is important to understand the relative burden of different types of cancers in order to inform policy decisions regarding resource allocation for prevention and treatment programs. To this end, there is a need for more research into the epidemiology of different types of cancers in PNG so that resources can be allocated appropriately based on evidence-based data rather than assumptions or guesswork.

The kind of research designs that can be done include:

1. Descriptive Studies: These studies describe the characteristics of a population or a phenomenon. Examples include cross-sectional surveys, case-control studies, and cohort studies.

2. Analytical Studies: These studies examine the relationship between two or more variables. Examples include case-control studies, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials.

3. Qualitative Studies: These studies explore the meaning and context of a phenomenon through interviews, focus groups, and other methods of data collection.

4. Systematic Reviews: These reviews synthesize evidence from multiple sources to answer a specific research question.

In conclusion, there is an urgent need for increased investment in healthcare infrastructure and services as well as public awareness campaigns if we are to improve coverage of diagnosis, screening and early detection for cancer in PNG. Additionally, more research into the epidemiology of different types of cancers is needed so that resources can be allocated appropriately based on evidence-based data rather than assumptions or guesswork.