THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	56
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO INCREASE EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS TO PREVENT AND ERADICATE CERVICAL CANCER.

     WHEREAS, the dedicated and combined efforts of medical researchers are finding the causes and cures of the many types of cancer that besiege us; and

     WHEREAS, scientists have found that cervical and related cancers and genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus; and

     WHEREAS, in a few cases, men are susceptible to related cancers caused by human papilloma virus's; and

     WHEREAS, human papilloma virus is contracted through skin to skin contact and sexual transmission; and

     WHEREAS, abnormal cells that lead to cervical cancer can often be identified by pap tests given during cervical examination and can be confirmed by human papilloma virus tests; and

     WHEREAS, although ninety-four per cent of women in Hawaii have had cervical screening, by increasing educational efforts to encourage all women to get regular examinations, cancers can be diagnosed at earlier stages and successfully treated; and

     WHEREAS, cervical examinations are covered by health insurers, health management organizations, Medicaid and Medicare, so cost is not a large factor in this preventive measure; and

     WHEREAS, a vaccine is now available that is one-hundred per cent effective in preventing disease from high risk types of human papilloma virus that account for seventy per cent of all cervical cancer; and

     WHEREAS, a few states now require girls to receive cervical cancer vaccines prior to attending middle school, and the 2008 Legislature passed a resolution requesting the Department of Health to outline the pros and cons of such a program in Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Health can increase its current efforts to expand education regarding the causes, cures and prevention of cervical cancer, and to encourage all women to get regular pap and human papilloma virus tests; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Health is requested to expand its educational programs to increase cervical screening and awareness by both men and all women, in particular, and suggest new and innovative measures to better disseminate information in order to prevent, and eventually eradicate, cervical and related cancers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.

Report Title: 

Cervical Cancer; Education and Eradication