Medical experts from CervicalCheck and the IFPA, along with women with experience of pre-cervical cancer, spoke about the importance of cervical screening at a coffee morning to launch the annual Pearl of Wisdom campaign on Friday 20 January 2017.
The national campaign runs from 22 - 28 January, during European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. All women aged 25-60 are urged to check when their next free smear test is due, or to book their first test, by visiting www.cervicalcheck.ie or calling CervicalCheck on Freephone 1800 45 45 55.
During the campaign, women are also be encouraged to wear a Pearl of Wisdom pin, the emblem of cervical cancer prevention, available free of charge through CervicalCheck’s Freephone service. Women can also support the campaign by posting a selfie with their Pearl on social media using the hashtag #ShareTheWisdom.
Through CervicalCheck, regular cervical screening is free for all women in Ireland aged 25-60 from over 4,500 registered practitioners of their choice, including the IFPA City Centre and Tallaght clinics. Find out more at www.cervicalcheck.ie or by visiting CervicalCheck on Facebook.
Further details of the campaign are available here.
Head of the National Screening Service, Charles O'Hanlon opened the launch which took place at Rua Red, Tallaght, Dublin 24.
Dr Caitriona Henchion, Medical Driector with the Irish Family Planning Association talks about the importance of cervical screening.
Dr Grainne Flannelly, Clinical Director for CervicalCheck talks about the programme's achievements to date.
We were delighted to welcome Ashling O'Regan, a Social Worker with Tusla, who spoke about her own personal journey through cervical screening and treatment.