11/03/2021 | Writer: Gözde Demirbilek
The “We Want Anonymous HPV Test Centers” campaign of the Young LGBTI+ Association was started two years ago: "At this stage we have reached, we see that HPV awareness is increasing day by day. However, we have not yet mobilized the decision-makers."
The Young LGBTI + Association launched an "We Want Anonymous HPV Test Centers" campaign on change.org in order to address the obstacles in accessing the free HPV tests as part of the March 4 HPV Awareness Day in 2019.
The association emphasizes that while the number of signatories reached 2100, the public awareness about HPV has increased, but decision-makers have not taken action yet:
“2 years ago today, we started the #Anonymous HPVTest campaign to express our demand for accessible, free and anonymous HPV tests, to ensure that HPV vaccines are included in the vaccine program and to raise HPV awareness. Our campaign, which reached more than 2000 signatures, became a means of making our voices heard. Your support has opened new doors for us in our meetings with decision-makers. At this stage we have reached, we see that HPV awareness is increasing day by day. However, we have not yet mobilized the decision-makers. ”
The demands that the association expects support in this campaign are as follows:
“We repeat our demands once again and expect support from you to make our demands visible.
- HPV vaccines should be included in the vaccination program and made available to anyone, free of charge, without discrimination.
- Assigned sex and age restrictions in HPV checks should be canceled, and free HPV checks should be made available to everyone in all hospitals, regardless of sex.
- Accessible, free, anonymous HPV test and consultancy centers should be opened with the support of the Ministry of Health and local governments.
- Awareness-raising activities on HPV should be carried out, and an HPV action plan should be developed by the Ministry of Health by meeting with non-governmental organizations and experts.
HPV is a public health issue; access to vaccines, testing, and treatment is a fundamental human right! ”
You can sign the campaign from here.
"We both aim to raise HPV awareness and to demand our right to access healthcare"
Duygu from Young LGBTI+ explained why they organized such a campaign in an interview with kaosGL.org in 2019:
"We see that the information about HPV is far from sufficient among the public. I can say that the circulating information is not related to reality and tending towards stigmatization. I think that this lack of knowledge is directly related to the fact that sexuality is a taboo in our society, making it difficult to discuss.
“With this campaign, We both aim to raise HPV awareness and to demand our right to access healthcare. We know that the real number of HPV-infected people in Turkey is much more than the registered data. We would like to emphasize the importance of anonymous testing centers.
“We both demand the opening of an anonymous HPV test center, and we aim to create a public opinion with this campaign and to pave the way for making the HPV vaccine free, which is currently on the shelves for a high price. "
Translation: Yiğit E. Korkmaz
Tags: human rights, health
