Cancer Charity calls on the Government to ensure that all young women have access to the prevention programmes which significantly reduce the risk of cervical cancer
PRESS RELEASE
Monday 21st January 2008
Cancer Charity calls on the Government to ensure that all young women have access to the prevention programmes which significantly reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
The UK’s leading cervical cancer charity, Jo’s Trust, has today urged the Government to introduce further measures to protect young women from developing cervical cancer. Although there are plans to introduce a national vaccination programme in 2008 for school-age girls, young women aged 18 to 26 are not eligible to receive the vaccine on the NHS or to have a smear test on the NHS until they reach 25. As a result this vulnerable cohort is ‘high risk’ for developing cervical cancer at a time in the future.
This week, cancer charities and other organisations across Europe are calling on their governments to take steps to reduce the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer.
60,000 new cases of cervical cancer are reported every year in Europe and 28,000 women die. The aim of the second European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week is to inform women that HPV vaccination and regular cervical screening can protect them against cervical cancer.
Jo’s Trust urges the Government to ensure that all young women in the UK have access to the prevention programmes available on the NHS. Its Director, Pamela Morton said, “Although we are delighted at the UK Government’s announcement to implement a national vaccination programme for young women aged 12 to 18, we are concerned that the NHS may not be adequately prepared for it to start on schedule in 2008. We also ask that they consider how to reduce the risk to young women aged 18 to 25, who at the moment are neither eligible for vaccination nor screening.”
Jo’s Trust is supporting this week’s Europe-wide campaign to raise awareness about the causes of cervical cancer and how it can prevented. The incidence and mortality from cervical cancer could be reduced significantly if all women when offered screening, attend and parents respond when their daughters are offered vaccination against HPV. As part of “European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week”, women will be offered a “pearl of wisdom”, an attractive brooch symbolising the message of prevention, which they are asked to pass on to family, friends and colleagues.
At Westminster, Jo’s Trust will invite MPs to sign an international “STOP Cervical Cancer” Petition launched across Europe this week. It calls on national governments and European Union institutions to “implement effective organised cervical cancer prevention programmes that will provide optimal protection to women against cervical cancer across Europe.”
Ends
For further information contact
Pamela Morton 01327 341965 or at pamela@Jotrust.co.uk
Notes to Editors
Jo’s Trust www.jotrust.co.uk is a registered charity established in 1999 by James Maxwell in memory of his wife Jo who died of cervical cancer.
It is dedicated to women, their families and friends affected by pre-cancer and cancer of the cervix
Jo’s Trusts objectives are
- To raise the public profile and understanding of the causes of pre-cancer and cervical cancer and how they can be prevented and overcome
- To create greater awareness of the importance of having regular cervical screening
- To campaign for improved preventative, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for cervical cancer
Last updated: 20/04/2010
