Report brings province a step closer to an organized cervical cancer screening program.

Cervical cancer is a major health concern for women of Newfoundland and Labrador. Acting Minister of Health and Community Services, Gerald Smith, said that his department and the Health and Community Services Western health board will jointly release tomorrow the report of a three-year pilot project which had as its goal the development of the elements of an organized cervical cancer screening program for women of Newfoundland and Labrador. The project was carried out in the western region which has a population of 33,000 women over the age of 18.

"Among many recommendations, the report substantiated the need for organized cervical cancer screening," said Minister Smith. "Health care providers and those working on the project were able to substantially increase the number of women having cervical screening in the western region, and create the necessary components to improve the quality and coordination of screening."

Prior to the project start-up, approximately 24 per cent of the population were screened annually. For the year 2000, 42 per cent of the population had been screened. "This demonstrates the commitment of all health care providers in ensuring that women over the age of 18 receive preventive health care," said the minister.

"Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable. Regular screening through a comprehensive program can significantly reduce the incidence of the disease. Yet, in Newfoundland and Labrador, seven out of 10 women do not have an annual Pap test," said Joanne Rose, coordinator of the Cervical Screening Initiative.

Health and Community Services Western has completed the pilot of the Cervical Screening Program. The elements of the organized screening program include education, recruitment, information systems, quality assurance and evaluation. Tomorrow, participants in a provincial workshop will review the results of the pilot and identify the linkages necessary for the potential expansion of the program.

Media contacts:

Joanne Rose
Health and Community Services Western
(709) 643-8718

Dr. Cathy Popaduik
Gynecologic Oncologist
Health Care Corporation of St. John�s
(709) 777- 6564

Carmel Turpin
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
(709) 729-1377

NOTE TO EDITORS:

The workshop in which the cervical screening initiative pilot project report will be released is taking place at the Fairmont Hotel Newfoundland from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 14. All media are invited to attend.

2001 06 13                                                                12:40 p.m.