Speech for the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq - Minister of Health to Announce Funding for the Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research to Raise Awareness of the Human Papillomavirus Among Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Women and Families in the Yukon

January 26, 2012
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

Check Against Delivery

Good afternoon everyone,

I'm pleased to be here, today, to tell you about the Government of Canada's contribution to raising awareness of the Human Papillomavirus--or HPV--in the Yukon.

We are working with the Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research and the Yukon Government to help prevent the spread of HPV among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women in the Yukon.

As I'm sure many of you know, HPV is the main risk factor for cervical cancer.

So you must also know how important it is for young women to be aware of the HPV vaccine, and for women of all ages to talk to their doctor about screening for cervical cancer.

Too many Canadians are unaware of the link between HPV and cervical cancer.

What you might not know, is that in 2011, an estimated 1300 women in Canada were diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Even more remarkable is the fact that HPV rates, for all women in the North, are higher than in other parts of Canada.

This needs to change!

That's why the Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research is working with the Government of Yukon to spearhead a new HPV awareness and education campaign in Yukon.

This project is aimed at young Aboriginal women and non-Aboriginal women, as well as their partners and families.

A committee made up of representatives from the Yukon's Department of Health and Social Services, nurses, First Nations health workers and elders, and other community members is overseeing this project.

The federal Government is also working to reduce the impact of HPV throughout the country.  In 2011, alone, we invested more than 3.9 million dollars in cervical cancer research.

Creating awareness and providing education are important ways to help to prevent cancer.

And all Canadians need to be aware of the link between HPV and cervical cancer.

That's why I'm pleased to announce that we are investing $264,000 in the HPV education and awareness campaign of the Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research.

Research has proven that one-third of cancer cases are linked to smoking. 

It has also proven the link between HPV and cervical cancer.

Canadians living in remote communities need reliable information about cancers, like cervical cancer.

That's why we need to continue to tell Canadians about cancer and the various risk factors, no matter where they live. Only when they are aware, will they understand how they can help prevent it.

I know that this project will go a long way towards helping us to reach that goal.

Thank you.