Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:14 pm on 25 January 2023.
This week is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, and the charity Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust have launched their biggest campaign yet, the campaign to end cervical cancer. Around 160 cases are diagnosed annually, and it's the most common form of cancer for women under 35. But, here in Wales, we have the tools to make cervical cancer a thing of the past: a wide-ranging HPV vaccination programme, highly effective colposcopy and cervical screening services. Regular screening alone can reduce risk by up to 70 per cent. We're preventing more cases of cervical cancer than ever, but we also face barriers, including inequity in access and falling uptake. The impact of the pandemic has also been significant and work is needed to remedy this. The possibility of consigning a cancer to the history books is an exciting one, and one that we should embrace and be motivated by. To get there, we must tackle the issues of today, and look to programmes of the future. The latest report from Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust highlights the barriers and opportunities to eliminate cervical cancer. This Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, I would encourage everyone to take up their HPV vaccines and cervical screening, and to contact Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust for information and support. Together, we can eliminate cervical cancer.