Jacinda Ardern has failed to acknowledge the vulnerability of Māori women to the disease after MP Kiri Allan's diagnosis, an international medical journal says.
“Surprisingly, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has stated that ‘the Government needed to do more to encourage people to use the existing cervical screening regime’. “This is a missed opportunity and fails to acknowledge that the current status quo is not meeting the needs of the population.” Responding to the editorial, Ardern told
Stuff she welcomed “the opportunity to clarify”.
Dom Thomas/RNZ
Minister Kiri Allan’s resignation after a diagnosis of stage 3 cervical cancer has highlighted New Zealand’s flawed screening programme. Now international journal The Lancet Oncology has joined others in calling for urgent action to improve it.
+Undoctored
Media release from Auckland and Waitematā DHBs, and Massey University
Thursday 22 April 2021, 08:57 AM
2 minutes to Read
Professor John Potter, Massey University
Self-testing for cervical cancer could reduce cervical screening inequities for Māori, Pacific and Asian women, according to new research led by Massey University in partnership with Waitematā District Health Board and Auckland District Health Board.
Cervical cancer is caused by the HPV (human papillomavirus). HPV can be picked up by a test (which, crucially, can also be a self-test) using a cotton swab. It is less invasive than the current test used in the National Cervical Screening Programme.