Politicians Welcome New Cancer Protection Initiatives

Elected representatives in Northern Ireland have welcomed two recent announcements for health protections in the region- a new and improved bowel cancer screening test and the extension of the HPV vaccine to boys.

Young boys, aged 12-13, will soon benefit from the jab to help protect them against other related cancers, bringing them in line with girls of a similar age.

The FIT bowel test will also be introduced early next year and aims to detect cancers at an earlier stage, when treatment can be 90% successful.

Paula Bradshaw MLA, Alliance Party Health Spokesperson, has warmly welcomed the two announcements, despite no Health Minister being in place. She said the developments are a breakthrough and explained: "I received a letter from Richard Pengelly, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, on 04 August 2018, in which he stated that he had directed that preparatory work be commenced on the possible introduction of HPV in boys in Northern Ireland, to allow for early consideration of the issue by an incoming Minister.

"I wrote again to him last week, to support the British Dental Association and Cancer Focus NI's campaign for the roll out of the vaccination programme for adolescent males; and so I am pleased that the collective pressure on him to act - despite there not being a Health Minister to sign this off - has resulted in this announcement today.

"The introduction of a new procedure for detecting the early signs of bowel cancer is also amazing news."

The SDLP Spokesperson for Health has also welcomed the Department of Health plans, commenting that he's "delighted" with the progress in the fight against cancer.

The Foyle MLA commented: "We have seen huge successes under the girls' HPV programme which has already reduced HPV related diseases here, in particular the cancer-causing types. Extending this programme to boys, effectively protects both men and women, making cervical cancer and other HPV diseases a thing of the past."

He added that the Department's commitment to FIT follows the hard-fought efforts of campaigners: "For too long Northern Ireland has lagged far behind its counterparts on these vitally important issues- whilst the introduction of both these initiatives is welcome it is long overdue. The next step now is to secure a cancer strategy. At the risk of repetition, the importance of a functioning government cannot be overstated- the earlier we can intervene on this issues, the more lives we can save."



(JG/CM)