November 1, 1999
(Health and Community Services)

Funding for cervical screening initiative

Kevin Aylward, Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods on behalf of Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and Community Services, today announced the allocation of $300,000 to continue the Cervical Screening Initiative in the Western Region for this year and next year. The demonstration project, to develop the model for an organized provincial screening program for cervical cancer, is a joint partnership with Health and Community Services Western, Health Canada, and the provincial Department of Health and Community Services.

"Our department is pleased to support this important initiative as we recognize the significance of an organized approach to the prevention of this very preventable disease," said Minister Joan Marie Aylward. "This important women's health issue must be addressed systematically because organized programs have been shown to be effective. Hit and miss screening does not achieve optimal screening coverage and appears to have reached the limit of its effectiveness. We also know that women who are diagnosed with the disease are often those who have not been screened."

Mr. Aylward indicated that this is the second year of this three year project. Efforts to improve women's health focus on education and screening. The specific components of the organized program include: education, recruitment, information systems, quality assurance, and evaluation.

Gerald Smith, MHA - Port au Port, is also very pleased to see the support for this project. He stated: "The project has been partially successful in promoting partnerships with community organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society, and in developing a coordinated approach with all members of the health team."

With the high rates of cancer of the cervix in this province, combined with low rates of screening, this project will have a significant effect on improving women's health.

Media contact: Cynthia Layden Barron, (709) 729-6183, fax: (709) 729-2076.

1999 11 01 10:25 a.m.