As we put a spotlight on Cervical Screening Awareness Week (19-24 June), we’ve launched new videos encouraging women from our South Asian community to go for their smear test.
Celia Briffa-Watt, NHS Lanarkshire Consultant in Public Health, said: “We’ve created two videos – a lived-experience story and a podcast with a discussion about cervical screening.
“We know that women from the South Asian community may be reluctant to attend their smear test for cultural reasons. The lived experience video features Saffiya, whose life was saved by treatment for cervical cancer. Importantly, we have produced versions of this message in Arabic and Urdu as well as English.
“The podcast, with two women chatting about the importance of screening, has also been created for the South Asian community following public health and health improvement work with them.
“As screening awareness week begins, we’re reminding everyone that a smear test is the most effective and accurate way of finding out if you’re more likely to develop cervical cancer.
“Screening only takes around five minutes. It checks the cells from your cervix for the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is the main cause of cervical cancer.
“Anyone aged 25 to 64 who’s eligible for screening is invited for a routine smear test.
“If you’d feel more comfortable with a female nurse or GP, be sure to mention this when you make your appointment. You can ask to discuss the smear test with the practice nurse before your appointment or ask for a double appointment if you think you need a bit longer during your smear test. You could even take a friend or relative along too, if you’d prefer.”
Celia’s message was echoed by NHS Lanarkshire’s Public Health Screening Programme Manager, Morag Nicholson.
Morag explained: “When it’s your turn, you’ll get a letter inviting you to make an appointment with your GP practice. Even if you think everything’s fine and you’ve had your HPV vaccine, please don’t ignore your smear test invitation.
“If your smear test is overdue, don’t wait for your invitation – you can go along anytime so why not book it this week? Talk to your GP or nurse if you’re worried – they’ll understand and can help.
“A smear test can help stop cervical cancer before it starts – it could save your life.
“The HPV vaccine protects against the main causes of cervical cancer, but it doesn’t protect against them all. So even if you’ve had the vaccine, it’s still important to go for cervical screening.”
For full information visit the cervical screening section on the NHS Inform website.
