New cervical cancer campaign starts
Wednesday 03 March 2010
Health officials have launched a new campaign to encourage teenage girls to get vaccinated against the HPV virus which can lead to cervical cancer.
Since last year, all girls aged 12 have been offered the vaccination.
But a mass call-out for girls aged 13 to 16 last year resulted only in a 50% take up rate. They are now being recalled.
According to Nos tv reports, some 80% of women and girls pick up the virus at some stage, but in 80% of cases the body successfully fights it off. The virus is spread by sexual contact.
Some 700 women develop cervical cancer every year and 200 will eventually die of it.
© DutchNews.nl
Readers' comments
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Besides promoting the vaccination, they should also promote to get regular gynacologist examinations to prevent or to catch in early stage if there's a problem.
It is really difficult to me to understand why I have to wait until I turn 30 year olds to get tested. I've been married for 4 years and still need to wait 2 years more to get 30 and being tested. It is so crazy, every woman in reproductive age should be tested twice per year. That's the normal thing. Even in my undeveloped country it is done twice per year.
By Veronica | March 4, 2010 7:56 AM