Cancer Charity calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that all young women have access to the prevention programmes which significantly reduce the risk of cervical cancer
CANCER CHARITY CALLS ON THE SCOTTISH 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 Scottish Government to introduce further measures to protect young women from developing cervical cancer. Although there are plans to introduce a national vaccination programme this autumn for school-age girls, young women aged 18 to 26 are not eligible to receive the vaccine on the NHS. While women of 20 and over in Scotland are eligible for a smear test on the NHS, statistics show nearly half of those under 26 decline it. 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 screening and vaccination against HPV can protect them against cervical cancer.
Jo’s Trust is urging 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 Scottish Government’s announcement to implement a national vaccination programme for 12-18 year old girls, we are concerned that the NHS may not be adequately prepared for it to start on schedule in 2008. We also ask for it to consider how to reduce the risk to young women aged 18 to 26, who, at the moment are not eligible for vaccination on the NHS.”
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 prevention message which they are asked to pass on to family, friends and colleagues.
Jo Trust is inviting MPs and MSPs to sign an international “STOP Cervical Cancer” petition launched across Europe this week, which 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.”
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For further information contact Pamela Morton 07980 720061, pamela@jotrust.co.uk or John Macgill on 0131 556 0050 (including out of hours).
Last updated: 20/04/2010
