Newswise — One4One, a unique program focused on empowering women to help make a difference in the fight against cervical cancer, starts today during National Minority Cancer Awareness Week. One4One urges women to talk to their healthcare provider about ways they can help protect themselves from cervical cancer, while also raising money to increase cervical cancer information programs and other educational services, especially for those who may be at greater risk of developing the disease due to lack of access to information or healthcare.
Organizations participating in One4One are American Social Health Association, Black Women's Health Imperative, Lance Armstrong Foundation, Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, Native American Cancer Research, National Asian Women's Health Organization, National Cervical Cancer Coalition, National Latina Health Network and Tamika & Friends, Inc., with support from Merck & Co., Inc.
For each woman who pledges to talk to her healthcare provider about cervical cancer via www.One4OnePledge.org between April 24 and June 5, Merck will donate $5, up to $1 million total, to the participating One4One organizations. The funds raised will be used to provide cervical cancer information programs and other educational services for women across the United States, including women at greater risk of developing the disease due to lack of access to information or healthcare.
In the U.S. alone, an average of 10 women die each day from cervical cancer, and it was estimated that more than 11,000 women would be diagnosed in 2007. "The loss of any life to cervical cancer is one too many, because it is a disease that we can help to prevent," said Dr. Lisa Flowers, Assistant Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine. "One4One is a great way to help strengthen the efforts of leading health organizations working to decrease the burden of cervical cancer in our country."
Cervical cancer is caused by certain types of a virus, called the human papillomavirus (HPV). What many may not realize is that women can be exposed to HPV as early as their teens or 20s. About half of all women who develop cervical cancer are between 35 and 55 years old. The unfortunate reality is that women from certain racial and ethnic backgrounds are disproportionately affected by cervical cancer. There is a greater risk, in part, because some women of certain racial and ethnic backgrounds are living in poverty and have an overall lack of access to healthcare, including screening. Social and cultural barriers are other factors that often deter these women from receiving access to care.
During National Minority Cancer Awareness Week and beyond, the One4One participating organizations are working to help eliminate health disparities, by raising awareness and implementing critical education and service programs to help decrease the burden of cervical cancer nationwide.
For more information about cervical cancer, HPV and to make your cervical cancer pledge today, visit http://www.One4OnePledge.org.
Participating One4One OrganizationsBlack Women's Health Imperative (Imperative) is dedicated to promoting physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being for the nation's 19.5 million African American women and girls. The Imperative brings the perspectives - and often missing voices - of African American women to the ongoing health policy debates, and works in partnership to develop community-based strategies to inform, educate and affect change individually, locally, regionally, and nationally.
Gynecologic Cancer Foundation's (GCF) mission is to promote public awareness of gynecologic cancer prevention, early diagnosis and proper treatment through the development and implementation of education programs. In addition, the Foundation supports research and training related to gynecologic cancers.
Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) unites people through programs and experiences to empower cancer survivors to live life on their own terms and to raise awareness and funds for the fight against cancer. The LAF focuses on cancer prevention, access to screening and care, research and quality of life for cancer survivors. Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, the LAF has raised more than $250 million for the fight against cancer.
National Asian Women's Health Organization (NAWHO) is dedicated to helping achieve health equity for Asian women and families. The NAWHO provides research and information about the health of Asian Americans to the public health field, and offers much critically-needed health education to the Asian American community.
National Latina Health Network (NLHN) is a growing network of individuals and organizations dedicated to improving the quality of health among Latinas and their families, by promoting leadership, advocacy, capacity-building, community health partnerships and initiatives. NLHN provides health experts who are connected and active in community-based prevention education programming, outreach, community mobilization, policy and research.
We would also like to acknowledge and thank the following organizations for their support of and involvement in One4One.
American Social Health Association (ASHA) is dedicated to improving the health of individuals, families and communities, with a focus on preventing sexually transmitted diseases and their harmful consequences.
National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) is dedicated to serving women with, or at risk for, cervical cancer and HPV disease through innovative education and support programs.
Native American Cancer Research (NACR) mission is to help reduce cancer incidence and mortality in Native Americans by increasing access to screening, care and preventive services and by assisting those affected by cancer to maintain a high quality of life
Tamika and Friends, Inc. (Tamika and Friends) is dedicated to raising awareness of cervical cancer and its link to HPV through grassroots outreach. Founded by cervical cancer survivor, Tamika, the organization hosts fundraising walks and educational events in multiple states.
About Merck & Co., Inc. Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The Company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, visit http://www.merck.com.
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