Toiréasa Ferris Blog

 

Love it or hate it, reality TV has done womankind a huge favour by introducing Jade Goody into our lives. Whether a fan of hers or not it cannot be denied that Jade Goody has done more to highlight the need for regular cervical smears than our government ever could, even if they were willing to give it the attention and funding it deserves. Watching a young mother organise her last weeks and days with her two sons has been the wake up call many, including myself, needed to schedule our next and for some their first cervical smear test.
 
What is equally upsetting is that despite the fact that our government can roll out a vaccine that will prevent upwards of 70% of cervical cancer cases for the generation not yet in their teens, they are choosing not to do so. You cannot put a price on the value of young women's lives. But even if you were to ignore the heartache and suffering of cancer sufferers and their families, providing the vaccine makes financial sense. The cost is said to be in or around €9 million Euro. When one considers the cost of treating cancer and the fact that upwards of 70% of cases of cervical cancer will be prevented by the vaccine then surely there are huge savings to be made.
 
While the responsibility to our young women lies with those running our country it has been left to an anonymous business man and a number of GP's to protect the future of three hundred young girls in North Dublin. They are to provide the vaccine free of charge, as the government had promised to do a few short months ago.

This is a welcome initiative by these individuals and it would be fantastic if it was followed in other parts of the country. But it is no substitute for government action. €100 million was spent by the state last year subsidising private fee-paying schools where the majority of citizens will never be able to send their children, hundred of millions was spent on branded drugs where cheaper generic versions are available. Similar examples of wastage are everywhere; but the government could not come up with €9 million to save the lives of young girls. Once again this government is failing in its most fundamental duty to its citizens.