By Charlene Gatt
THE Western Region Health Centre’s Health Works program has won a grant from PapScreen Victoria to educate women on the benefits of having regular Pap tests.
Health Works is one of 19 organisations to receive PapScreen Victoria funding this year, and will use the money to develop educational seminars on Pap Tests.
Health Works general manager Sharon Read said many women in the area were unaware of the benefits of cervical screenings, with research indicating that fear and confusion were among the top reasons women did not have Pap tests.
“By educating women on the subject, we intend to dispel common myths and help alleviate anxiety and uncertainty around cervical screening,” Ms Read said. “Ideally this will result in an increase in Pap tests being taken and more women following up abnormal Pap test results.”
It’s the second year in a row the organisation has received funding for its education program.
“Around 90 per cent of women who develop cervical cancer have either never had a Pap test or didn’t have them every two years,” Hiranthi Perera from PapScreen Victoria said.
“This is concerning when one third of Victorian women are still not having regular Pap tests.
“The work undertaken by community-based organisations is imperative in successfully communicating the health benefits of regular Pap tests to women at a grass roots level.”
PapScreen Victoria, which advocates “a little awkward for a lot of peace of mind”, recommends all women aged between 18 and 70 who have ever been sexually active to have a regular Pap test every two years – even if they have received the cervical cancer vaccine.
