As part of the INCA project the awareness campaign Zervita on cervical cancer prevention is carried out in Germany
Despite of good screening possibilities and good therapy changes of the early stages, cervical cancer is a common disease with about 50 000 cases and almost 25 000 deaths every year in Europe. It is caused by persistent infections with certain types of human papillomaviruses (HPV). Infections with HPV are very common and usually spread by sexual contact. In most cases HPV infections are cleared by the immune system, but in some cases the infections persist and cervical cancer can develop, this can take up to 10 to 15 years.
The number of incidence and deaths of cervical cancer could be significantly reduced if more women would take part in the screening programmes. Abnormal cervical cells can be detected by cytological screening and if necessary be removed before they have a chance to develop into cancer. In Germany only 50% of the women participate at the annual cytological screening, despite meeting of the costs by the health insurances. Moreover newly developed vaccines against the most common HPV types in cervical cancers could prevent many cases of cervical cancer.
The connection between HPV infection and cervical cancer is not well known among the public. The aim of the awareness campaign Zervita is to sustainably raise awareness of cervical cancer risks, screening and prevention possibilities among the public and to support health organisations in their public information and education activities.
The awareness campaign is carried out by the Universität Tübingen together with the European Cervical Cancer Association (ECCA), Deutsches Grünes Kreuz e.V. (DGK) and Krebsinformationsdienst des Deutschen Krebsforschungszentrum (KID). It is supported by 18 (representatives of) professional, medical and scientific associations and cancer societies, which are members of the project group Zervita. The integration of many stakeholders in this network will ensure a high quality and wide consent of the information provided. The central office of the Zervita project group is located at the Institut für Frauengesundheit Baden-Württemberg in Tübingen.
Zervita information material for the general public and for professionals is available via the information platform www.zervita.org. For individual information on cervical cancer KID can be contacted through the toll free number in Germany 0800-4203040. A central press office at DGK will continuously support the press with up to date information HPV and cervical cancer.
The Zervita awareness campaign will be carried out in Germany and could serve as model to be adopted by health organisations in other European countries and for other cancer types. The accumulated know-how and network could be applied to other areas of women´s health.
For information on cervical cancer in other languages and for other Europe countries the European Cervical Cancer Association (ECCA) www.ecca.fr is recommended.
