Cervical cancer screening has been made available in Bahrain for the first time.

It is also the first time the check-up has been made available in the Middle East.

The King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH), in Muharraq, has the capability to carry out comprehensive tests for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer.

"All integrated elements in the system have been developed and supplied by Hologic, a leading worldwide women's health company that deals with early detection of uterine, cervix, breast and urinary bladder cancer," said KHUH commander Major-General Dr Shaikh Salman bin Ateyatalah Al Khalifa.

KHUH consultant, chief of pathology and blood bank and laboratory medical services head Lieutenant Colonel Dr Khalid Al Sindi said the primary objective was to deliver the best patient care with the highest quality and clinically validated medical technology.

"We are confident that the synergy offered by this technology will help us achieve this goal," he said.

"We are also proud to be the first hospital in the Middle East to adopt this comprehensive integrated platform from a single source."

Hologic senior vice-president and international general manager David Harding said cervical cancer was preventable.

"We believe our unique, complete range of best-in-class screening technologies can help identify those at risk of developing invasive cancer and significantly reduce the burden of this disease."

He said the system included the latest fully automated slide processor, three integrated imagers, a fully integrated, interactive self-contained computer imager combined with specialised review microscope to assist cytologists and pathologists in screening.

The 311-bed hospital that opened its doors in December last year was dedicated to the people of Bahrain during a ceremony held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad in February. The hospital provides services for gastrointestinal diseases, endocrinology, neurology, rheumatology, dermatology, paediatrics and neonatology, obstetrics and gynaecology, general surgery, ear, nose and throat, general medicine, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, plastic surgery, urology, vascular surgery, cardiovascular, chronic pain management, physical therapy and respiratory diseases.