An Appeal To Women To Get Checked For Cervical Cancer

The Ministry of Health and Wellness will be increasing its outreach programmes to build awareness about cervical cancer, according to Minister of State in the Ministry, Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn.

Speaking with reporters following a dialogue with women traversing the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre in St. Andrew on Monday (April 25), she said the message and benefits of early screening for the disease will be ramped up, outside of periods particularly earmarked for observation.

The State Minister was at the Centre as part of activities to observe Pap Smear Week, April 24 to 30.

“We have touched some people… . Just speaking with them and bringing this kind of awareness is important,” she said, and that the Ministry will definitely start some work to bring more awareness, not just during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month but to “have it done continuously” and increase the number of women doing the health check.

While stating that the screening is “very accessible” through the public health system for persons who want to do their regular checks, Mrs. Cuthbert-Flynn said efforts are being made to cut the waiting time for results.

“We are urging persons to get their pap smear done at least every year… because it is so important,” she said, noting that cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Jamaican women. She wants to “make sure that we are speaking with young people, and to let them be more aware of what they should do about cervical cancer and to get their pap smear done,” she stated.

Pap Smear Week is part of the Ministry’s slew of initiatives to commemorate Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, with a reinforced message that no woman should die from cervical cancer.

The Transport Centre sees a high volume of female commuters and it is hoped that the State Minister’s direct interaction will inspire women to get pap smears done. Pap Smear Week is expected to help in reducing Jamaica’s high number of cervical cancer cases.

Meanwhile, Programme Development Officer in the Ministry’s Non-Communicable Disease and Injuries Prevention Unit, Dr. Cathi-Ann Williams, who was part of the resource team at the Centre, said activities are taking place across the parishes, with several special opening hours at health facilities to facilitate screening.

“We want to encourage women to screen for cervical cancer, because it is preventable, it is treatable, if found early, and for every woman over the age of 20 to speak with their health practitioner about cervical cancer,” she said.