This Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (January 23-29), Brecon and Radnorshire MP Fay Jones joined Jo’s Trust in their call for action to eliminate cervical cancer in the UK.

Cervical cancer currently kills two women in the UK every day and the charity is calling for action and awareness.

Cervical screening helps detect and prevent cancer early and is currently offered on the NHS for women between the ages of 25 and 64. The test looks for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause changes to the cells of your cervix - the “high risk” types of HPV.

The national average for smear tests is 80 per cent, but in Powys we sadly fell below that average at 72.7 per cent in the year 2020-2021.

The second tool in the fight against cervical cancer is vaccination against cancer-causing strains of HPV. This is routinely offered to girls of secondary school age since 2008 and extended to teenage boys from 2018. Although the HPV vaccine does not eliminate a person’s chance of cancer, it does significantly reduce the risk.

The World Health Organisation has set a target that by 2030, 90 per cent of girls should have had the HPV vaccine by 15 years of age. However, in Powys we are currently at 37 per cent coverage for Year 10 and 79 per cent in Year 11 (2021-2022).

Ms Jones said: “Due to my own personal experience being treated for abnormal/pre-cancerous cells, I am incredibly concerned that we fall below average in the uptake of smears and HPV vaccines in Powys.

“Without regular screening there is the possibility of cervical cancer going undetected. We have to take COVID-19 into account, but these figures are incredibly concerning and I will be discussing this with Powys Teaching Health Board.

“It is vital when called for screening we attend and eligible children are vaccinated against HPV. We must do all we can to raise awareness.”

To get involved with Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, and the #WeCan End Cervical Cancer campaign, follow Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust on social media or visit the website at jostrust.org.uk