Cervical cancer charity expects action after positive reaction to Stormont meeting
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust welcomes the positive reaction from attendees to a meeting they ran at Stormont on 7th June.
Attendees included health minister Edwin Poots, Michelle Gildernew MLA Chair of the Health Committee who Chaired the meeting, Paula Bradley MLA and Sharon Montgomery who have both been affected by cervical cancer as well as a range of experts and Northern Ireland charities.
The UK’s only charity dedicated to those affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities chose Cervical Screening Awareness Week to appeal to the new Northern Ireland administration to give a Commitment during the life of this current administration to improve cervical cancer prevention including: improved campaigning around screening and immunisation awareness, increased support for women with cervical cancer in Northern Ireland and to see plans for the introduction of HPV testing in Northern Ireland to be published as soon as possible.
Sharon Montgomery (patient), Michelle Gildernew (Chair of Health Committee), Robert Music (Director, Jo’s Trust)
Robert Music, Director of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said: “We were delighted that our calls to action were positively received and now look forward to seeing Members of the Legislative Assembly making cervical cancer reduction a key priority. It is imperative that everyone involved in preventing cancer in Northern Ireland works together to ensure we improve screening rates as well as set up services for those affected by the disease.”
Paul Eros, director of molecular diagnostics at healthcare company, Roche, said: “Roche is delighted to have sponsored this important meeting which updated attendees on the latest advances in cervical screening and HPV testing. The commitment amongst those in the room to improve all aspects of cervical cancer awareness and prevention is excellent news for women in Northern Ireland.”
Robert Music added “We look forward to working with all key stakeholders to ensure the positive momentum gained from the meeting continues. Cervical cancer is a preventable disease and we must all do everything we can to ensure women take up the offer of regular cervical screening, and that young women take the opportunity to be vaccinated against HPV infection when it is offered. Screening only takes a few minutes but those few minutes could save your life.”
Ends
To arrange interviews and pictures or for more information contact Elizabeth Udall, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust on 07515 852690 or elizabethudall@btinternet.com
Notes for Editors
1. The Stormont event took place on Tuesday 7 June. Cervical Screening Awareness Week took place between 6 and 12 June.
2. Jo’s Cervical Cancer trust – www.jostrust.org.uk - is the UK’s only dedicated cervical cancer charity offering support and information for those affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities.
3. The charity’s national helpline is on0808 802 8000. It can be called by anyone within the UK and offers reliable information, support and signposting on a wide range of topics, including initial screening concerns and screening results, treatment, recovery and palliative care.
4. Around three women in the UK die each day from cervical cancer, with someone being diagnosed every three hours, facing an uncertain future. Over 300,000 women a year are told they may have a cervical abnormality that could require treatment.
5. Cervical screening coverage in Northern Ireland is 76.7% meaning almost one in four women are not attending screening when invited. Uptake for the HPV vaccination was almost 90% in 2008-9 for girls in year 9 but 43% for those in year 14.
6. t is estimated that the UK Cervical Screening Programmes save 5,000 lives every year and if HPV vaccination take up continues to reach at least 80% it is believed this could result in a 2/3rds reduction in incidence in women under 30 by 2025.
7. The meeting was supported with a grant from Roche Diagnositics.
Last updated: 15/06/2011
