This edition of our state report on cervical cancer prevention marks two important anniversaries: the 20th anniversary of Women In Government (WIG) and the fifth edition of this report. Since 1988, WIG has been equipping women state legislators with expert information, educational resources, networking and leadership opportunities to enable them to address and resolve complex public policy issues. To that end, five years ago WIG launched the Challenge to Eliminate Cervical Cancer Campaign in the belief that state policymakers have a tremendous opportunity to address cervical cancer prevention by raising awareness and education about cervical cancer in their states. Our goal was to ensure all women have access to the most advanced and appropriate cervical cancer prevention technologies, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
Today, we are proud to say that the Campaign has succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. All 50 states have introduced and enacted legislation aimed at the reduction of cervical cancer. Where five years ago many people had never heard about human papillomavirus (HPV) and its link to cervical cancer, today many states have HPV education programs and countless women have been reached with prevention messages. States have expanded access to HPV testing and the HPV vaccine. More than half the states have Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Forces that work to track progress in the fight against the disease, develop new prevention strategies and address healthcare disparities.
Shortly into the Campaign, Women In Government recognized the need to track the progress of states in fighting cervical cancer and to collect information on “best practices” so that states could learn from one another. In 2005, Women In Government launched the first state report on cervical cancer prevention in America to help chart progress toward the eventual elimination of this preventable disease. This is the fifth in our series of reports on state-level cervical cancer prevention initiatives. We are proud to present “A Roadmap for Success: The State of Cervical Cancer Prevention in America 2009.” This year’s report illustrates vividly that progress is possible when policymakers work with other stakeholders to build consensus, when best practices based on sound scientific information are identified and followed, and when efforts are made to eliminate disparities in healthcare. This “roadmap for success” is not only applicable to cervical cancer but to other health-related policy challenges.
(click on each state to view individual state profiles)
To submit corrections for the 2009 edition, please contact the HPV & Cervical Cancer Policy Resource Center at 1-888-333-0164 or via email at resourcecenter@womeningovernment.org.
