WHEREAS, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women in the United States, with approximately 12,200 new cases diagnosed annually, 4,100 of which result in death; and

WHEREAS, worldwide, 500,000 women will contact this disease and 250,000 will die as a result; and

WHEREAS, cervical cancer is the only cancer with one known precursor and cause—the human papillomavirus (HPV); and

WHEREAS, with regular PAP and HPV testing, cervical cancer is highly preventable, the HPV test, in particular, can identify the risk with great accuracy; and

WHEREAS, vaccines are being developed that will prevent more than 70% of cervical cancers; and

WHEREAS, Women in Government (WIG), a bi-partisan, non-profit organization of women legislators, has enlisted the aid of women legislators in all 50 states and has organized a national campaign to eliminate cervical cancer in the coming decade; and

WHEREAS, The Hawaii Legislative Women's Caucus established a speakers bureau in 2005 to educate and encourage women of Hawaii about cervical cancer and encourage women to get screened; and

WHEREAS, January is Cervical Cancer Month nationally and the Hawaii Legislature recognizes the importance of this designation; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that this body recognizes January as Cervical Cancer Month in Hawaii and endorses the efforts of the national Women in Government campaign to eliminate cervical cancer by educating women about the importance of appropriate screening and the future promise of vaccines to prevent cervical cancer; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Director of the Department of Health, and the Governor.

Report Title:

Cervical cancer; recognition of January as Cervical Cancer Month