 President Mori Declares 2009 National Cancer Prevention YearPalikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): February 17, 2009 - On February 16th, 2009 President Mori signed a declaration to name 2009 the National Cancer Prevention Year. In the declaration, the President outlined the significant threat that cervical cancer poses to women in developing countries worldwide. He stated that each year there are about 400,000 new cases of cervical cancer, of which 80% occur in developing countries and that every two minutes a woman dies of cervical cancer somewhere in the world. As earlier reported by FSM Information Services in Press Release #0109-11 entitled "Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine pre-education and implementation will soon roll out in the FSM States", the FSM representative to the Cancer Council of the Pacific Islands, Dr. Joanes Sarofalpiy, the FSM Secretary of Health, Dr. Vita Skilling, the Comprehensive Cancer Control and Prevention Coordinator, Mr. Amato Elymore and the Immunization Program Coordinator, Ms. Louisa Helgenberger are working together on a vaccine pre-education and implementation for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). This is a very common virus and believed to be a major cause of cervical cancer in women. Cervical cancer can be prevented by early treatment, including HPV vaccination. The declaration also highlights some of the activities that are being held this year to increase the awareness of cancer prevention. The FSM will celebrate the International Celebration Week on March 6th-8th, 2009 with a theme of "Prevention of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is part of the international celebration of cancer awareness highlighting Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention. Along with this, HPV Immunizations for girls begins in Kosrae on February 20th, in Yap on February 25th, and in Pohnpei on March 9th ,2009. |