Rome, 21 November – There are more than 2.2 million young Italians who are not protected against the human papillomavirus (HPV) and run the risk of contracting and spreading it. 11% of women aged between 25 and 64 have never had an HPV or Pap test to screen for cervical cancer. 13% of them, however, have not done so in the last three years.
This is truly disheartening data, which takes us further away from achieving the public health objective (proposed by the WHO) of eliminating cervical cancer in the coming years. Therefore the Aiom Foundation (Italian Association of Medical Oncology), with the support of Siti (Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health), made an appeal to the institutions two days ago, asking first of all the Government’s commitment “for the approval of an extraordinary plan for the elimination of HPV-related tumors through the recovery of anti-HPV vaccinations and cervical screening. We need to lower the incidence rate of this neoplasm to less than 4 cases per 100,000.”
This is what emerged from the conference Actions for an HPV-Free Italy by 2030 which was held the day before yesterday in the Chamber, on the occasion of World Cervical Cancer Day, on the initiative of the MP from Forza Italia Annarita Patriarca (pictured)member of the Social Affairs Commission of Montecitorio.
“In total, over 7,500 cancers are caused by the dangerous virus every year” he states Alessandra Fabiof the national Aiom board. “There is not only cervical cancer, but also significant amounts of cancer of the anus, vulva, vagina, penis, oropharynx, oral cavity and larynx. We must then add other cases of diseases such as cervical dysplasia, anogenital warts or recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Reducing the incidence of all these pathologies is possible until they are completely eradicated. There are already virtuous examples from some countries, including Australia, which are achieving an important and above all not impossible objective. However, some measures must be taken immediately to encourage and strengthen primary and secondary cancer prevention.”
In the Aiom and Siti Foundation document presented to Montecitorio, some concrete proposals are put forward to be implemented at a national and regional level. For example, we ask to achieve high vaccination coverage (by the 14th year of life) through different systems. “The vaccine remains by far the most effective tool to defend both women and men from the oncogenic virus.” he explained Enrico Di Rosavice president Siti.”It can prevent up to over 90% of all cases of HPV-associated cancers and is administered regularly, and safely, to millions of young people around the world. In Italy, however, immunization data are still low and in any case far from the 90% coverage objective recommended by health institutions. For the last two birth cohorts of 2010 we are only at 38% coverage achieved among females and 31% recorded among males”.
They then persist.”within the national territory strong differences between the rates found in the different Regions” added Di Rosa. “Immunizations must be promoted more and this activity must involve general practitioners, paediatricians, pharmacies, specialists and provide for the coordination of prevention departments. Access to anti-HPV vaccination services must be expanded by identifying new vaccination sites, including service pharmacies. Open days and other days dedicated to prevention can be organised, using every cervical screening opportunity to propose and carry out the anti-HPV vaccination free of charge. This should be addressed in particular to women aged between 30 and 40 who are not yet vaccinated and who are taking part in screening“.
“Screening tests are also essential if we want to definitively eradicate all cervical cancers” she took care to remember Adriana Bonifacinopresident of the IncontraDonna Foundation, representing the signatory and adhering associations of the Manifesto Group for the elimination of HPV-related tumors (National Youth Council, Cittadinanzattiva, Italian Federation of voluntary associations in oncology, IncontraDonna Foundation, Umberto Veronesi Foundation, Think Young, Acto, Lilt, Loto, Europa Donna and Fondazione Pro). “Like vaccines, they are true life-saving health aids, the importance of which is however still underestimated. 22% of women who don’t take the test say they don’t need it, while 13% admit they don’t do it out of laziness. However, there are also 15% of people who say they have not received any summons from the local health authority. Organizational problems therefore persist which must be resolved as soon as possible.”
Highlighting how the conference provided interesting and important suggestions to Parliament, the Hon. Patriarca concluded by stating that “increasing the contrast to some forms of HPV-related cancer is possible. We must therefore collect these proposals and put them into practice to reduce incidence and mortality rates as soon as possible.”
