GCN eBulletin, July 2009

GCF's Cervical Cancer Campaign outreach in the Chicago Hispanic community has been busy since its first educational session in February of this year. An average of four presentations per month has been conducted, with the three-step message of "Vaccinate early. Pap test regularly. HPV test when recommended" reaching almost 300 women, ages 17-72. The venues for the sessions include churches, neighborhood nutrition and exercise groups, high schools, wellness support groups, health fairs, school parent groups, and businesses with a high number of Latina employees. At the close of the presentations, attendees have the opportunity to make appointments with a partner agency, El Taller de José, to accompany them to doctor offices for annual exams or assistance with obtaining the HPV vaccine. Both Spanish and English literature is provided, and all women are encouraged to take the 3-step prevention message home to their mothers, sisters, daughters and friends. Through this powerful woman-to-woman connection, many more women hear the campaign's powerful message.

GCF LAUNCHES WEB SITE "ASK A DOC" BLOG

GCF's cervical cancer public education campaign Web site (www.cervicalcancercampaign.org) has added a new feature. The "Ask a Doc" blog is an interactive feature that seeks questions from the public about cervical cancer prevention and early detection. The site carries a strong disclaimer and each message encourages the questioner to talk to their healthcare provider about their concerns.. The "Ask a Doc" blog is one more avenue to reach the public with positive messages and information to help women reduce their risk of cervical cancer.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO CHICAGO'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY

GCF conducted a cervical cancer prevention training session in May for staff members from Chicago's Westside Association for Community Action (WACA). Because African-American women suffer a disproportionate share of cervical cancer mortality, GCF is reaching out to partners in the African-American community to spread the message that women can takes steps to protect themselves against cervical cancer. In the next year WACA will spread our message to over 800 African-American women and direct them to locations where they can access care. The training served as a pilot for GCF's Train the Trainer lay health educator effort. The training was conducted by Dr. Yvonne Collins and staff. GCF plans to use this model to conduct many more such trainings in the future.

GCF JOINS THE PEARL OF WISDOM CAMPAIGN

GCF has joined with many of its cervical cancer educational partners in supporting The Pearl of Wisdom Campaign, a global effort to raise awareness of the opportunities now available to prevent cervical cancer. Its messages align neatly with that of the GCF campaign. The campaign's message states that by working together, women can more effectively raise awareness of the tools available to prevent cervical cancer.

The Pearl of Wisdom Campaign to Prevent Cervical Cancer campaign was started by the European Cervical Cancer Association, or ECCA, which includes 100 organizations from across Europe including cancer charities, cancer treatment centers, medical associations, university teaching hospitals and health education organizations.

THE CERVICAL CANCER CAMPAIGN IN THE NEWS

Two recent publications with wide circulation featured articles about GCF and spokesperson, Ginger Gardner, MD. The April 27th issue of People magazine contained an article about cervical cancer and maternity fashion designer and cervical cancer survivor Liz Lange. A sidebar to the article quoted Dr. Gardner talking about steps women can take to reduce their risk of cervical cancer. It also directed readers to the GCF cervical cancer Web site. The second article appeared on May 16th in Lifescript.com, a large on-line women's health Web site magazine