The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is recognizing Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, November 17, by responding to the Call to Action for the Elimination of Cervical Cancers and for decreasing all human papillomavirus-related (HPV) cancers. Mississippi is developing a formal campaign involving stakeholders, including the American Cancer Society and University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), to decrease all HPV-related cancers.
The campaign will coordinate strategies across our state and the southeast to address suboptimal HPV vaccination coverage, low rates of screening for cervical cancer, and high rates of other HPV-related cancers (oral, anal, vaginal, vulvar, penile).
HPV is a common infection that causes complications including pre-cancers, cancers and genital warts, which are almost entirely preventable through timely HPV vaccination. When diagnosed early through recommended screenings, cervical cancer can be successfully treated. An estimated 90% of HPV cancers are preventable through on-time HPV vaccination.
Now is the time for action to reverse these trends.
The Mississippi Campaign and the Southeast Call to Action will include the following goals by the year 2030:
- HPV vaccination: Increase the percentage of children and adolescents starting at age 9, where data are available, completing the HPV vaccination series to 80%.
- Cervical cancer screening: Increase the percentage of people with a cervix who are up to date on screening per current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines to 80%.
- Follow-up, diagnosis and treatment: Increase the percentage of people with a cervix who receive follow-up, diagnosis and treatment for abnormal screening results to 80%.
- Increase screening, diagnosis and treatment rates: For all other HPV-related cancers.
MSDH is proud to house the MS Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (MS-BCCP), which provides screening and diagnostic services for cervical cancer to women aged 21-64 who are uninsured, underinsured or medically underserved and have a household income at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. MS-BCCP’s mission to provide cervical cancer screening and care directly supports the goals of Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.
To see if you qualify for a free screening, call (601) 576-7466 or visit https://msdh.ms.gov/BCCP to locate a provider in your area. For more information on preventing cervical cancer, visit https://msdh.ms.gov/cervical.
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