Washington, DC – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today announced its formal endorsement of the Partnership to End Cervical Cancer. Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women; about 10,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed, and nearly 4,000 women die from the disease annually. Research shows that Hispanic women, especially along the U.S.-Mexico border, have a higher incidence of cervical cancer than other groups.

“The Partnership represents an enormous opportunity to end this serious disease, perhaps in our lifetimes. Furthermore, the combination of prevention, early detection, and improved treatment strategies articulated by the Partnership has the potential to serve as a model for addressing other health issues,” said NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía.

“Latino and Asian immigrants, lower-income women of all ethnicities, as well as African Americans, all have higher rates of incidence and mortality from cervical cancer. This is due in large part to the failure of the existing health care system to overcome barriers of knowledge and access to treatment that disproportionately affect these groups. NCLR’s research shows that even otherwise well-informed Latinos are largely unaware of the causes, symptoms, or the availability of a vaccine to treat cervical cancer. And even those Hispanics who are aware of the importance of screening and early detection often encounter a health care system that is ill-suited to respond to their needs,” said Carlos Ugarte, Senior Health Adviser to NCLR’s President and CEO, who also chairs the Partnership’s Health Disparities Subcommittee.

Over the 2005-2006 period, with support from the National Cancer Institute, NCLR conducted 12 focus group discussions with different segments of the Latino population to explore the community’s knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer.

“The existence of a vaccine to prevent the disease, while an important breakthrough, cannot fulfill its promise unless it is accessible to all American women. Furthermore, the vaccine alone cannot address other barriers to access experienced by Latinos and other under-served groups,” Ugarte stated. “That’s why the Partnership’s approach of developing and supporting specific public education and community-based strategies to engage all Americans in this campaign is critically important.”

“Too often, public health campaigns fail to achieve their potential because Hispanics and other under-served groups are an afterthought. We appreciate the fact that the Partnership is doing this the right way, and including everyone up front. We’re confident that this inclusionary approach eventually will end cervical cancer among all Americans, regardless of income or ethnicity, and we’re excited to be a part of this effort,” concluded Murguía.

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