“The impact of public education - Needs and solutions”

1. “The impact of public education -Needs and solutions” By Pamela Morton Cervical cancer advocate EUROGIN 18th February, 2010

2. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.It always seems impossible until its done” Nelson Mandela

3. Who educates? Politicians: Power/Funding Healthcare professionals: Good information/good practice Media: Awareness Industry: Ethics/Safety/Efficacy Parents: Protection of their children Teachers: Influence Women to women, girls to girls

4. Why education is important “I have been a cervical cancer advocate for over ten years. During this time I saw, too often, the devastating impact of ignorance; precious lives wrecked or worse, tragically lost to a cancer that is now largely preventable. Ignorance is not bliss in this case, instead education is the key to preventing cervical cancer”

5. Katya(Latvia) “I am aged 28 and until a month ago I did not know that my cervical cancer was caused by a virus. I got married at 19 and was never with anyone before my husband so how can this happen to me. Is it my fault? “There is no education here about this, no-one to talk to and it is difficult to have tests. I cannot have more children but feel lucky to have two daughters and to be alive. I am very afraid for them now and want to help a programme here so that they and other girls will not suffer, they way I have”

6. Sheelagh (Ireland) “My beautiful daughter, Geraldine (27) died from cervical cancer in 2008. She had a 14 months old daughter. Geraldine never had a smear test and I thought her symptoms were due to the baby. She should not have died. My world has ended but believe me I will get my little grand-daughter vaccinated at the very first opportunity”

7. Phil (England) “It was such a shock when my mother, Grace (49) received her diagnosis. I knew nothing about cervical cancer, what it was, how it could happen, who could I blame, would the treatment work, would she survive? I felt guilty and helpless because I could not support her, I should have known more”

8. 1970 UK cervical cancer mortality rates were 8.31 per 100,000 females 2007 UK cervical cancer mortality rates were 2.42 per 100,000 females A70%decrease in 30 years *Research attributes this decrease to the re-call system introduced by the NHSCSP in 1988 (1, 2 CRUK)

9. In contrast, cervical cancer mortality in the Irish Republic, which, unlike the UK, does not have comprehensive population-based screening, has been increasing by an average of 1.5% per year since 1978. The mortality rate, which was half of that in the UK in the late 1970s, now exceeds that in any of the region of the UK. * Research suggests a lack of population-based screening as the probable cause

10. Needs “Globally more than 250,000 women die from cervical cancer every year with 500, 000 new cases reported. The developing world suffers the most, with 85% mortality from this now largely, preventable cancer. The World Health Organisation (WHO) projects, that without immediate action the global number of deaths will increase by nearly 80% by 2030, mostly in low-and middle-income countries” (IARC 2010)

11. Needs Eleven projects aimed at preventing cervical cancer have been submitted for the 2010 WACC/DACC Awards. Regardless of their global socio-economic status each project highlighted the exact same needs: Greater education and awareness Good information Access to improved healthcare and prevention programmes Delivery of universal health care equality Collaboration between all relevant parties

12. Solutions (The Dream) “Regrettably, as we know, there are no ‘one size fits all’ solutions! I would like to see the introduction of appropriate, affordable national prevention programmes (screening/ vaccination/HPV testing) in the developing world. Also that education and awareness campaigns would preface their implementation and most importantly, that young girls and women could easily access these programmes.”

13. Solutions (The Reality) “Efforts to organize an effective screening programme in developing countries will have to find adequate financial resources, develop the infrastructure, train the needed manpower, and elaborate surveillance mechanisms for screening, investigating, treating, and following up the targeted women. The findings from the large body of research on various screening approaches carried out in developing countries and from the available managerial guidelines should be taken into account when reorganizing existing programmes and when considering new screening initiatives” WHO Feb 2010

14. Solutions (What we all CAN do) Promote advocacy Empower women to ‘discover and then use their voice’ Encourage and support patient led campaigns Demand ‘factual and open-minded’ media reportage Greater use of ‘social media’ and ‘user generated contact’

15. “Thank you very much for listening. No battle is ever won by one person, or even one team, therefore we must ensure that every women is aware of WACC and its powerful global network. Together we can influence an extraordinary outcome to this battle - the eradication of cervical cancer around the world – because we’re worth it!”

16. “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart” Nelson Mandela