WHEREAS, January is recognized nationally as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, an observance that promotes education about cervical cancer causes, screenings, and treatments; and
WHEREAS, in North Carolina, 406 women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer, and 129 women died of cervical cancer in 2020; and
WHEREAS, an estimated 13,800 cases of invasive cervical cancer were diagnosed in 2020 nationwide; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (NC BCCCP) provides free or low-cost breast and cervical cancer screenings and follow-up to eligible uninsured or underinsured women; and
WHEREAS, regular cervical cancer screening tests are an effective way to detect the disease early, allowing for early diagnosis and treatment which significantly increase a woman’s chance of survival; and
WHEREAS, in the past 40 years, the number of cases and deaths from cervical cancer has decreased significantly, due in part to the development of the HPV vaccination; and
WHEREAS, increased awareness of prevention and detection methods among patients and health care providers is a key component in safe-guarding cervical health; with HPV vaccination, as well as routine screening and follow-up, cervical cancer is highly preventable; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina encourages organizations, health care practitioners, and all people to promote awareness about cervical cancer and to support patients currently battling cervical cancer and those who have lost loved ones to this disease;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim January, 2021, as “CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.