Saving women’s lives through regular cervical screening is the aim of a concentrated two-month campaign to begin this month in the Midwest Region.

The Department of Health’s WA Cervical Cancer Prevention Program aims to increase cervical screening participation among women up to 70 years of age, especially participation among unscreened and underscreened women.

WA Cervical Cancer Prevention Program Manager Gillian Mangan said the Program’s strategies actively focus on women over 50 years of age, Indigenous women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, women in rural and remote areas, and women with disabilities.

“The proportion of eligible women participating in cervical screening in the Midwest is around 58 percent, in the Murchison it is 43 percent, while the State rate is approximately 60 per cent,” Ms Mangan said.

“One of the answers to reducing incidence and mortality from cervical cancer is to encourage women to participate in regular two-yearly cervical screening, and for them to maintain this behaviour throughout the course of their adult life”.

“We want to assist and encourage local health service providers, general practitioners and other health professionals to support the campaign by raising awareness of the importance of regular Pap smears and, in turn, empower women in the region to be actively involved in their own health care.”

All areas in the Midwest and Murchison districts will be involved in the campaign throughout March and April 2007.

The campaign will include radio and press advertising as well as education sessions and Pap smear clinics for women in the region.

“Three out of every four women who develop cervical cancer have either never had a Pap smear or have not had one in the last five years,” Ms Mangan said.

“Women who have never had a Pap smear, or haven’t had one in the last two years, are strongly urged to make an appointment with their doctor, health centre, Aboriginal Medical Service or Well Women’s Clinic.”