RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide after breast cancer; and

WHEREAS, the disease is the third most common gynecological cancer among American women, with approximately twelve thousand two hundred new cases diagnosed annually and four thousand one hundred of those cases resulting in death; and

WHEREAS, cervical cancer is highly preventable, with regular and accurate PAP smear and human papilloma virus screening, yet despite screening programs, women are still dying from the disease; and

WHEREAS, native Hawaiian women have the highest incidence rate for cervical cancer of women in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, cervical cancer cases in the United States are generally attributed to a lack of education and access to regular cervical cancer screening and a lack of screening accuracy; and

WHEREAS, experience shows that increasing cervical cancer awareness among women, especially underserved women, significantly reduces the probability of mortality; and

WHEREAS, women are entitled to proper cervical cancer information, so that they can be empowered to make informed health care decisions and have access to routine screening, including the most accurate methods available; and

WHEREAS, the good health and well-being of the women in Hawaii are enhanced as a direct result of efforts to spread awareness about cervical cancer; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is pleased to join in recognizing and applauding the valuable role that families and advocates of cervical cancer victims play in helping our medical community advance the fight against this disease; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Governor is requested to designate the month of January as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all of Hawaii's citizens are encouraged to participate in this observance; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, and the Director of Health, who is in turn requested to transmit copies to the Hawaii Cancer Research Center, Hawaii Tumor Registry, University of Hawaii, and related medical facilities and organizations.

Report Title:

Designating January as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month