red mum

SORRY sorry I meant to post about the weekend rally before now but things have been really busy, this is really my first chance to. About 100 people turned up and while I would have loved to see thousands turn up I am also (mostly) realistic and see Saturday as the beginning of a broader campaign, more action will be planned which of course I will post here. I should also say (cos it kinda read that I did) I didn’t organise the rally, I set up the Facebook group, got details of the rally and publicised it through the group. Then again while the group may not have decided on where, what and when for the rally, but members did Trojan work spreading the word.

Meanwhile the group has been growing and growing, with lots and lots of comments not to mention links. Between Saturday lunchtime and today the group doubled in size. I have found this phenomenal and absolutely brilliant. Currently there are 5, 355 members and growing.

Throughout the last couple of days I have been able to click refresh on my browser and see the numbers climb upwards. So do expect the campaign to pick up momentum. If you haven’t done so please do join the group and we’ll keep you informed of anything and everything planned around this issue. Pics of the rally are up on Flickr.

THIS afternoon I’ll be meeting with, hopefully, lots and lots of other angry people at the rally organised to tell Harney that we want our daughters to receive the cervical cancer vaccine. Are you going?

We are meeting this afternoon at 2pm at the Spire on O’Connell Street, Dublin and then going to the Teachers’ Club at 3.30pm for a public meeting. You can read more on the Irish Times.

Are you Facebook? If so please join the group where the campaign continues.

I have to give a massive shout out of thanks to Gavin who has been absolutely brilliant giving lots of help and more with the group. At times we have been chatting on Facebook astounded watching the numbers joining steadily rise with each page refresh.

As I write this some 2, 435 members have joined and climbing, we have not been able to work out how many invites members have sent out as once you reach 6,000 invites Facebook doesn’t tell you how many invites after that. We reached 6,000 invites on November 14th.

Hopefully this response will be matched on the streets today. People are angry about this we need to let Harney know it.

Defend Women’s Health Rally:

Save Cervical Cancer Services for Girls and Women.

Saturday, 15th November (this Saturday) at the Spire, O’Connell Street at 2pm

Join the Facebook group

I CAPTURED Harney’s contribution to the Private Members’ Motion on the cervical cancer vaccine. Its a long one so sorry about that, but it is worth watching if you are following this debate as I noticed some inconsisitencies between her interview with Ray D’Arcy yesterday morning and what she said in the Dáil last night. One glaring one was in the morning she spoke of the vaccine for next year in secondary schools (as if to say she would somehow find the money between now and then) and then last night she spoke of next year in primary schools. Clarification please.

I could blog about this at length but a number of things strike me about this.

Firstly the Government’s constant argument about screening, screening, screening is nothing more than a smoke screen. The screening only began in September, it is important but it is not the be all and end of all of this, not when there is a vaccine.

This is a vaccine against cancer, I might repeat that for emphasis, this is a vaccine against cancer. I know it doesn’t give 100 per cent protection but thats okay because the women will be screened. Both vaccine and screening go hand in hand or should go hand in hand.
For 70 per cent of women who would receive the vaccine, they will be saved from ever contracting cervical cancer.

If this programme doesn’t happen as it was planned, who knows when it will. I am not fooled in the slightest by any of the guff put forward by the Government. Thats why I am continuing with this.

There is talk of a demo, when I hear where and when, I’ll post the details. And do check out the other posts as there are many comments with great suggestions you should check out as well as trackbacks to all the other bloggers highlighting this issue. You can also check out all the different blogs on this subject at Irish Blogs.

FOLLOWING on from yesterday’s fantastic response from angry people to the disgraceful decision to scrap plans for the cervical cancer vaccine, I felt I should try my best to keep this live.

If you have already emailed Harney with a photograph of your daughter (minister’s_office@health.irlgov.ie) and emailed your friends and family urging them to do the same, there are another couple of things you can do to keep the pressure on.

You could contact your local Government representative, you will find all their emails on the Oireachtas website and let them know you are not happy. You can also call them to the Dáil by phoning (01) 618 3000 and asking to be connected. Incidentally I have not received any acknowledgement from Harney’s office that my correspondence was received, nice work there. I didn’t expect much but some kind of ‘we received your email’ response would be the least I expect. Maybe it was just a hectic day for emails in her office

In addition you can sign the online petition which is doing the rounds and which you can find here and please do send the link on to everyone in your email address book.

Doing one or both of these won’t take a huge amount of time but do not underestimate the impact a barrage of phone calls can have, look at the pensioners and medical cards if you don’t believe it.

Let’s make sure this issue doesn’t fade away over the weekend. And thanks to everyone who has helped so far.