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It’s great to see that Martha, a 6th former here at HAB, has contributed to this important cause by writing such an informative article about Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. Her detailed explanation of the history of cervical cancer, along with the ways in which we can all get involved to promote awareness, shows a strong commitment to raising public understanding of this crucial issue. We’re excited to feature her article on the school website and hope it encourages everyone to take an active role in prioritising cervical health. Thank you, Martha, for your hard work and dedication to spreading knowledge!

CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION WEEK
by Martha

Cervical Cancer Prevention week has been observed for 37 years and plays a crucial role in raising awareness about cervical health. This year's cervical cancer prevention week is from January 20 – January 26.

HISTORY OF CERVICAL CANCER

The cervix is the lower end of the womb that connects the womb to the vagina. The cervix allows fluids, such as menstrual blood, to pass from the womb into the vagina. The cervix also helps during childbirth.

Cervical cancer is a growth that appears around the cervix. It is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). NHS reports show that people do not usually know that they have HPV because it does not make us feel sick. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection spread through a cut around the cervix.

In the 20^th century, there was a high rate of cervical cancer globally, mostly in Europe. This was due to the lack of cervical screening at the time. With time scientists introduced cervical screening. During cervical screening, doctors can check for HPV and remove it before it turns into cervical cancer.

In the UK cervical screening started in 1964. And are freely accessible for all individuals with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64. Due to the accessibility of cervical screening, the rate of cervical cancer has decreased over the last decade (2017-2019) from an average of 13200 per year to an average of 3300 per year in England. In 2018, the rate of cervical cancer in England was recorded as 10 per 100,000 people.

Other interventions the NHS has introduced to reduce the number of cervical cancer cases:

• The national HPV programme, this helps to educate people about HPV.
• The introduction of HPV triage, a way to figure out if someone with HPV needs more tests and the treatments needed.
• HPV testing.
• HPV vaccine to help the body fight against HPV from causing more problems.

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2025 is a dedicated awareness campaign aimed at educating people about cervical cancer, its prevention, and the importance of regular screening. And it serves as a reminder to prioritise cervical health and steps to reduce the risk.

Ways in which we as a community can get involved:

• Share information about cervical screenings and HPV vaccinations with our friends and family.
• Schedule a cervical screening appointment for people who have a cervix and are 25 or older
• Gain more knowledge about cervical screenings.
• Donate to organisations dedicated to cervical cancer such as UK Cervical Cancer and British Gynaecological Cancer Society
• Volunteer for charities dedicated to cervical cancer, such as Eve Appeal and GO Girls