Health Minister Edwin Poots has failed to follow through on a commitment to tackle the lack of awareness on ovarian cancer, according to Derry MLA, chairperson of the Stormont Health Committee.
Health Committee chairperson Maeve McLaughlin
The Sinn representative said the Health Minister had agreed to a standalone campaign to publicise awareness on ovarian cancer following the passing of a motion in the Assembly in March last year.
She added: “All the parties agreed with this and yet the minister appears to have ignored it.
“Almost a year on and there is no sign of this campaign. Just the other week the minister told the Assembly that the Public Health Agency (PHA) were ‘developing’ a campaign but this could take months.”
Ms McLaughlin revealed she had requested a meeting with Mr Poots to discuss the matter and had requested the Health Department and the PHA to attend a Health Committee meeting.
She added: “There is a need for an ovarian awareness campaign now. A campaign separate from others where it will get the necessary coverage and make women aware of the early signs so that they can attend their GPs and get the proper diagnosis. This will save lives.”
She concluded: “Awareness of ovarian cancer is lagging behind other cancer related illnesses and this needs rectified as soon as possible. The Minister needs to act.”
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