There are around 3,200 cervical cancer cases in the UK every year. That’s more than eight every day. UK Cervical Cancer – based in Norwich but with links across the world - campaigns to prevent suffering and death from cervical cancer and, in particular, by those who are disadvantaged and deprived.
The charity has started a dedicated project across Norfolk – and help is needed to raise awareness of the need to get screened, and especially now that the Covid-19 pandemic has focused health priorities away from serious illness and their treatments.
Chief Executive Melvyn Hill says: “Our major challenge is raising awareness of the effects of cervical cancer and how it can be prevented. Across Norfolk there are approximately 50 cases arising each year, with around 15 deaths. With financial support from the National Lottery we aim to raise awareness of the disease by directly targeting those most at present and future risk.”
“We are well aware of the fact that, in Norfolk, the majority of women have been screened along with the majority of years 8 and 9 children being vaccinated - so our objective is to get everyone screened or vaccinated, or reminded that this should take place at the appropriate time” explains Melvyn.
“We want to work in partnership with GP practices, schools, and religious and ethnic community organisations to spread awareness of the need for vaccination, screening and testing. This is of even greater concern to us here at UK Cervical Cancer now, at the start of 2021, as Covid-19 has inevitably resulted in delays to screenings and vaccinations.”
UK Cervical Cancer has prepared a helpful and easy-to-use range of material for use in this project. A schools presentation is available to help educate younger audiences about the Human Papillomavirus and its wider dangers.
“GP surgeries are an important channel in getting the information out to registered patients, but we know that many women are not registered with their local surgery, and so we are asking Norfolk’s VCSE organisations and groups to help by disseminating this information to those potentially at risk, who they may be working with.”
If you work within a VCSE organisation that has contact with service users eligible for screening, please raise awareness and, if you would like to work with UK Cervical Cancer in support of that aim, contact email info@ukcervicalcancer.org.uk or call 07968 348184. Visit UK Cervical Cancer to read more about their work and access their resources for targeted audiences.