Two Californians Honored By Women In Government for Efforts to Help Eliminate Cervical Cancer
Posted on: Saturday, 18 November 2006, 09:00 CST
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Two Californians were honored last night by Women In Government for their commitment to eliminating cervical cancer. California State Sen. Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont) and Dr. Juan Felix, professor of clinical pathology and obstetrics and gynecology at University of California's Keck School of Medicine, each were awarded Women In Government's Presidential Leadership Award. Dr. Felix received his award at the gala dinner held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.
Dr. Julie Louise Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), gave the keynote address. Dr. Donnica Moore, a nationally known women's health expert, served as the event's emcee and Susan Crosby, president of Women In Government, presented the awards. The event was part of the second annual HPV & Cervical Cancer Summit hosted in Washington, DC this week by Women In Government, a non-profit, bi-partisan organization of women state legislators.
"With the availability of a preventive HPV vaccine and more sophisticated diagnostic screening technology, such as HPV testing, our country is on the threshold of an incredible era in which we can eliminate cervical cancer," said Ms. Crosby. "Through their vision and remarkable actions, these accomplished individuals are bringing us one step closer to achieving this goal."
In 2006, Sen. Figueroa successfully introduced a bill requiring insurance companies to cover testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV) -- the virus that causes cervical cancer -- for age-appropriate women as part of routine screening. Her actions made California the sixth state in the nation to pass such legislation. In addition, Sen. Figueroa had previously successfully introduced a bill to implement a statewide educational campaign to inform California women -- particularly the Latina community -- about HPV and its link to cervical cancer.
Dr. Felix is a nationally known expert in diagnostic ob/gyn pathology and has been a champion of efforts to reduce cervical cancer disparities for minority and lower-income women. He is presently involved with the Native American Pap Initiative at the McLaughlin Indian Health Center and has previously acted as physician in charge at the Central City Community Health Fair for the Homeless in Los Angeles. He is a passionate advocate in the medical community for ensuring widespread access to healthcare services, particularly for those women who face barriers to care.
Women In Government's HPV & Cervical Cancer Summit is the nation's largest cervical cancer gathering of state lawmakers, medical experts, advocates and public health officials, and is designed to develop national strategies for eliminating cervical cancer. The Summit is supported in part by a grant from the CDC.
In 2004, Women In Government launched the Challenge to Eliminate Cervical Cancer Campaign. The Campaign engages state legislators nationwide in policy and awareness efforts to advance cervical cancer prevention efforts. To date, 45 states have introduced legislation or resolutions aimed at cervical cancer elimination.
About Cervical Cancer
Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second leading cancer-killer of women, with almost a quarter-million deaths each year. In the U.S., the American Cancer Society estimates 9,710 women will be diagnosed with and more than 3,700 women will die of cervical cancer in 2006. According to the CDC, approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV, with 6.2 million new infections occurring annually and approximately 80 percent of sexually active women will be infected with HPV by age 50. For 90 percent of infected women, the virus is naturally cleared by the body and becomes undetectable within two years. However, persistent infection with "high-risk" types of HPV can cause cell changes that, untreated, can lead to cervical cancer.
About Women In Government
Women In Government is a national, 501(c)(3), non-profit, bi-partisan organization of women state legislators providing leadership opportunities, networking, expert forums and educational resources to address and resolve complex public policy issues. For more information, visit http://www.womeningovernment.org/ .
Editor's Note: Photos of award winners are available. For more information, please contact Tracy Morris at 650-380-4413 or tracy@morrismarcom.com.
Funding for this conference was made possible in part by 1U13DP000619-01 from the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Women In Government
CONTACT: Tracy Morris for Women In Government, +1-650-473-1272, or cell,+1-650-380-4413, tracy@morrismarcom.com
Web site: http://www.womeningovernment.org/
Source: PRNewswire
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