Politicians can help raise awareness during European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week – Noone

Fine Gael Dublin Senator, Catherine Noone, has said today (Thursday) that politicians should do their part to help raise awareness among the general public during European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. Speaking in Seanad Éireann today, Senator Noone called on politicians to play a role in raising awareness of this important women’s issue.

“Every year approximately 300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and over 90 lives are lost to this preventable disease.

“This week is European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, and men and woman all across Ireland should be doing their part to raise awareness about cervical cancer prevention. Politicians can and should play a role also in terms of raising awareness. They can use their websites, social media and indeed their constituency offices to promote the CervicalCheck programme and share information about it.

“Cervical cells change slowly and can take years to develop into cancer cells. Therefore, these abnormal cells can be found and treated before they develop into cervical cancer. The earlier abnormal cells are found; the easier they are to treat.

“Cervical cancer screenings save lives and women nationwide need to avail of the free services provided to them. The National Cervical Screening Programme provides free tests from over 4,500 registered practitioners across Ireland though CervicalCheck to women between the ages of 25 and 60.

“Cervical cancer can be prevented and therefore I believe that politicians need to give European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week the support and recognition it deserves in order to try and decrease the number of cervical cancer cases in Ireland.”