Cervical Cancer Charity calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to ensure all young women have equal access to prevention programmes
CERVICAL CANCER CHARITY CALLS ON THE WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE ALL YOUNG WOMEN HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO PREVENTION PROGRAMMES.
The UK’s leading cervical cancer charity, Jo’s Trust, has today urged the Welsh Assembly 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 20 are not eligible to receive the vaccine or to have a smear test on the NHS. Although they will be offered a smear test when they reach 20, smear test coverage in Wales for women under 24 was less than 50% in 2005/2006. As a result, this vulnerable cohort will be at higher risk of developing cervical cancer some 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 Welsh Assembly Government to ensure that all young women in the Wales have access to the prevention programmes available on the NHS. Its Director, Pamela Morton said, “Although we are delighted at the UK and Welsh Assembly Government’s announcements to implement a national vaccination programme for 12-18 year old girls, we are concerned that the NHS in Wales should be adequately prepared for it to start on schedule in 2008. We also ask 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’s Trust is inviting Assembly AM’s to join their MP colleagues in Westminster, by signing 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 or pamela@jotrust.co.uk or Dave Roberts 07733 323350
Last updated: 20/04/2010
