The Campaign against Cervical Cancer

One of our local members of the European Parliament Glenis Willmott
highlights this month news of a vaccination programme to combat the virus
which causes most cases of cervical cancer.

The vaccination which is due to be introduced for young girls aged 12 next
September is something that Glenis in her role as co-chair of the European
Parliament Cervical Cancer Group has campaigned for since the vaccine was
licensed in the EU last year.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in women
worldwide - and it kills over 1000 women every year in the UK. High risk
strains of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) are linked to almost three
quarters of cervical cancers and it's been estimated that a staggering half
of young women in Britain have been infected by these strains by the time
they're 30. In future, thanks to the new programme, girls will be protected
from HPV.

Glenis advises that Girls aged 12 will be offered the vaccine from September
2008. There will also be a two-year 'catch up' starting in autumn 2009 for
girls aged up to 18.

For more details http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=325799&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False">click here for Department of health press release
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=325799&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False
or go to Glenis website at http://www.gleniswillmott.org.uk/