The Irish Department of Health has announced the launch of a National cervical Screening Programme for women aged 25-60 as from September 1 2008 and has also announced an HPV vaccination programme from 2009 for 12 year old girls.

The Department of Health is hoping to reverse the trend of Ireland’s mortality rate from cervical cancer which has been rising steadily since 1978, in contrast to most European countries.

This also comes as a result of the Irish Family Planning Association’s (IFPA) intensified efforts throughout 2007 and 2008 to raise awareness of cervical cancer and promote evidence based intervention programmes on a national level.

Indeed, the impact of IPPF Irish MA’s highly successful campaign has lead to sustained engagement of high level parliamentarians, continued media requests, 100 % increase in the women attending for cervical screens in IFPA medical clinics, consultations with the National Screening Service, and finally the announcement of the launch of the National Screening Programme in September 2008 and policy decision to offer universal vaccination to all 12 year old girls from 2009.

The Irish national screening programme will enable women aged 25-44 to avail of free cervical Pap tests from their doctor or family planning clinic every three years and women aged 45-60 every five years.

Well organised and well resourced screening programmes allow for early detection and treatment of precancerous cells and have the capacity to reduce incidence of cervical cancer by up to 80%. The HPV vaccination programme for 12 year old girls should further contribute to improving women’s health by preventing infection from the virus that cause 70% of all cervical cancer.