As January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, the NHS is urging those eligible to take up cervical screening and HPV vaccinations when invited.

The aim is to reduce around the 685 annual deaths caused this disease in England.

Dr Matthew Dominey, consultant in public health and screening and immunisation lead for NHS England South West, said that the region is committed to eliminating cervical cancer by 2040.

He stated: “We believe this is achievable and are working hard to ensure we have the right screening and vaccination services in place to enable the public to help us reach this goal.”

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Most cervical cancers (over 99 per cent) occur due to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, but the advent of the NHS HPV vaccination program has led to a drastic reduction in infections and newly diagnosed cervical cancer cases among vaccine-eligible women.

HPV vaccination is offered to year 8 students in schools, and by year 10 in 2023/24, 77.9 per cent of girls and 72.8 per cent of boys aged 14 to 15 in the South West were vaccinated.

The vaccine, apart from preventing cervical cancer can also protect men and women against other cancers.

Cervical screening – another effective tool in the south west’s fight – is estimated to save around 5,000 lives each year.

Screening helps detect potentially cancerous changes in cervical cells early, allowing treatment before actual cancer develops or catching treatable cancer at an earlier stage.

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In comparison to the national average of 2,700 cervical cancer diagnoses per year, the south west has a higher proportion of diagnoses.

In a bid to achieve the 2040 target, the NHS south west has set out three objectives for the next four years: increasing HPV vaccination rates to at least 90 per cent for both boys and girls, ensuring 70 per cent of women are screened by the age of 35, and again by 45, and guaranteeing at least 90 per cent of women diagnosed with cervical disease receive treatment.

More information is available on the NHS website.