Coalition Promotes Pearl of Wisdom As Worldwide Symbol of Cervical Cancer Prevention
ATLANTA (January 29, 2009) – Marking Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in January, Georgia women legislators have joined a coalition of women’s health and advocacy organizations in the United States and Europe in a new, united effort to prevent cervical cancer worldwide.
The Pearl of Wisdom Campaign to Prevent Cervical Cancer (www.PearlofWisdom.us) will raise awareness of cervical cancer, encourage women to take advantage of the means that are now available to prevent it, and work to make sure that these methods are accessible to girls and women around the globe – particularly to the underserved populations that have much higher rates of cervical cancer. A central focus of the campaign is the promotion of the Pearl of Wisdom as the global symbol of cervical cancer prevention, designed to help all groups involved unite behind a core set of messages.
“Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women around the world, killing nearly 300,000 women worldwide each year,” said Senator Nan Grogan Orrock (D-Atlanta), member of the Women in Government Board of Trustees. “In Georgia, there are 400 deaths of women annually from cervical cancer. However, this disease is almost completely preventable. Research has established that cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), whose presence is seen in 99.7 percent of all cervical cancers. Almost every case of cervical cancer is now preventable through organized screening with Pap tests, HPV tests and immunization programs with HPV vaccines.”
Georgia women legislators are presenting the recommendations of the Final Report of the 2006 Georgia Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force to the Women’s Caucus to announce the Pearl of Wisdom Campaign and highlight the needs here in Georgia for broader education, screening, treatment, and immunization. Legislation to accomplish these goals is under consideration by the Women’s Caucus. Members of the Task Force chaired by Sen. Don Thomas (R-Dalton) include Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford), Representative Cicely Hill (R-Kingsland) and Rep. Michele Henson (D-Stone Mountain).
“The Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force worked diligently to craft three solid recommendations on education, screening and immunization to prevent cervical cancer,” said Sen. Thomas.
The Pearl of Wisdom Campaign to Prevent Cervical Cancer was started by the European Cervical Cancer Association, or ECCA (www.ecca.info), which includes 100 organizations from across Europe. Sen. Orrock presented a report on cervical cancer efforts in the U.S. at a European-wide meeting of Politicians for Cervical Cancer Prevention at the European Union Parliament in Brussels on January 22, 2009.
U.S. partners in the Pearl of Wisdom Campaign include the American Medical Women’s Association, the American Social Health Association, the Balm in Gilead, the Coalition of Labor Union Women, the Global Summit of Women, the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health, the National Council of Women’s Organizations, the Society for Women’s Health Research, Tamika and Friends, Women In Government, The Yellow Umbrella Organization, and others.
Pearl of Wisdom pins are available at www.PearlofWisdom.us for $6.95 each and are also available in bulk. Proceeds will go to the U.S. Pearl of Wisdom Campaign Fund, dedicated to the support of U.S.-based cervical cancer prevention activities. Visitors can also send “virtual” Pearls of Wisdom to the women in their lives through the website.
“The prevention of cervical cancer is now a realizable goal and the Pearl of Wisdom is the ideal symbol to spread this powerful message. It is my hope that women around the world, indeed everyone, takes this symbol to heart and supports our united campaign to ultimately eliminate cervical cancer,” said Sen. Unterman. Sen. Unterman, a registered nurse, has led efforts to address cervical cancer in Georgia for several years.
Rep. Barbara Reece (D-Menlo), “We’ve all shared the hope of curing cancer. Thanks to recent breakthroughs, we now have the means to eliminate cervical cancer with widespread education and immunization. There is cause now for new hope for women here in Georgia and around the world.”
“I have seen the tragic loss of life in my own family as a result of this cancer,” said Rep. Gloria Frazier (D-Hephzibah). “No effort is too great to spare families the loss of loved ones. Eradicating cervical cancer is a worthy goal and we are totally committed to working with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and our Georgia public health officials and healthcare providers toward this goal.”
About Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. In the U.S., the American Cancer society estimates that 11,070 women will have been diagnosed with cervical cancer and 3,870 women will have died of the disease in 2008. Cervical cancer is caused by high-risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a very common sexually transmitted infection that three of four adults will have at some time in their lives. Most of these infections go away on their own without treatment. Infections that do not go away on their own can lead to cervical cancer.
A Pap test is the traditional method used for cervical cancer screening. An HPV test identifies women who are infected with high-risk types of HPV that could potentially lead to cervical cancer. Clinical studies suggest that screening with both a Pap test and an HPV test offers women aged 30 and older the best protection against cervical cancer. An HPV vaccine is now FDA-approved for girls and young women ages 9-26. It has been shown to be 100 percent effective – in women not previously infected – at preventing infection with the two types of HPV that cause approximately 70 percent of all cervical cancers. HPV vaccination does not protect against all the HPV types that can cause cervical cancer, however, meaning that women who have been vaccinated still need to be screened to protect against the HPV types that are not covered by the vaccine.
Sen. Nan Orrock represents the 36th Senate District which includes portions of Fulton County. She may be reached by phone at 404.463.8054 or via e-mail at nan.orrock@senate.ga.gov.
Press Release
For Immediate Release:
January 29, 2009
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
Kallarin Richards, Senior Communications Specialist
ravae.graham@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028