WHEREAS, cervical cancer is a disease that strikes nearly 14,000 women in the U.S. each year, with over 300 new cases diagnosed in Virginia in 2022; and

WHEREAS, cervical cancer most often affects women between the ages of 35 and 64; and

WHEREAS, 51 percent of women in Virginia from the ages of 25 to 44 reported receiving cervical cancer screening consistent with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines in 2022; and

WHEREAS, regular cervical cancer screening tests are effective in detecting the disease early when it can be effectively treated; and

WHEREAS, cervical cancer disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities lacking access to health care and proven lifesaving tools; and

WHEREAS, vaccines have been developed to prevent infection with some high-risk HPV types commonly associated with cervical cancer, and they are intended to produce immunity to HPV types that are responsible for approximately 90 percent of cervical cancers; and

WHEREAS, treatment options for cervical cancer consist of several different therapies, including immunotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation, and chemotherapy; and

WHEREAS, increasing awareness between patients and health care providers alike regarding the best use of these prevention tools is a key component in safeguarding women's health; and

WHEREAS, cervical cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers during pregnancy, with there being a significant link between cervical cancer and maternal health; and

WHEREAS, access to quality prenatal care and postnatal care, as well as providing education and communication, are essential to reducing maternal mortality and morbidity associated with cervical cancer; and

WHEREAS, it is important for all citizens to recognize that cervical cancer is preventable, and to encourage and support the women in our lives in taking charge of their health and availing themselves of the tests and vaccines that have proven effective in treating cervical cancer;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize January 2026 as CERVICAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.