In Focus: Raising Awareness About HPV
On Thursday, January 26, 2012 the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, announced federal funding for Increasing Awareness and Education of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in the Yukon project.
This project is being led by Dr. Brendan Hanley, Yukon's Chief Medical Officer of Health, in partnership with the Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research and the Yukon Government's Department of Health and Social Services. The project is being guided during all phases by the HPV Steering Committee, which has membership from Yukon First Nations communities, the Council of Yukon First Nations, the Women's Directorate and others.
There is a higher than average prevalence of HPV among women living in the North. The Honourable Doug Graham, Yukon Minister of Health and Social Services said that "HPV is always part of the cause of cervical cancer". By preventing HPV, we can prevent cervical cancer. Minister Aglukkaq said that "Too many Canadians are unaware of the link between HPV and cervical cancer". New studies are being done that link HPV to oral cancers as well. Women can prevent getting cervical cancer by getting regular Pap tests and getting the HPV immunization (Gardasil).
Gardasil is currently offered to Yukon girls and women ages 9-26 at no charge. It is also offered to grade 6 girls in Yukon public schools. The Yukon is the only jurisdiction in Canada where the immunization is available at no charge for this age group. However, the number of girls and women actually getting the immunization is quite low. Dr. Brendan Hanley told CBC News that 'the territory's low rate of vaccination against HPV shows there hasn't been enough education about the benefits of the immunization'. Dr. Hanley also reassured the public that it's a very safe and effective vaccine (CBC News, January 26, 2012).
The HPV awareness and education project received $264, 400 from the Public Health Agency of Canada. The project Steering Committee will decide how to move forward in raising awareness about and preventing HPV in the Yukon with the ultimate goal of preventing cervical cancer. The project will be completed by March 31, 2013 but the project aims to enable each community to be able to continue to educate Yukoners about HPV and its prevention.
Pictured above, at the funding announcement in Whitehorse on January 26, 2012, is (centre) the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, along with (from left to right) Dr. Brendan Hanley, Yukon Medical Officer of Health; Jody Butler Walker, AICBR's Executive Director; Breanna Blottner, AICBR's Director of Operations; and Katelyn Friendship, AICBR's Research Officer.