Programme Resolution updates from the 2011 Conference in Brighton and the 2012 Conference in Belfast.
Ovarian Cancer – Year Two update by Barbara Dixon
The original Resolution (2011 – Brighton): That Soroptimists alert legislators, health providers and the general public to the symptoms and importance of early diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer and support research being carried out to provide a screening test which will be readily available and avoid the danger of late or missed diagnosis. Proposed: SI Carnforth & District and Seconded: SI Southport
Soroptimists were called upon to find out about access to information in their locality and use this to lobby legislators and health providers. Further to this they were asked to organise events to raise awareness of the symptoms of the disease to facilitate earlier diagnosis.
Barbara Dixon, APD Food Security and Health, gave members in conference an update on progress with this resolution, now at the end of its second year.
Barbara advised that SIGBI had provided much information on the website and articles had been produced in Soroptimist News. Clubs had also been given details of organisations, such as Target Ovarian Cancer, that could help by speaking about the subject.
By the end of Year 1 Ovarian Cancer had been included in the Department of Health’s Symptoms Awareness Programme and in Guidance from NICE.
By the end of Year 2 several clubs had been supporting Ovarian Cancer Month in March and the NICE Guidelines had been updated to include guidance for health professionals on referral for treatment. Guidance on this subject is vital, as the symptoms are not always indicative of the disease.
SIGBI has continued to provide information for clubs and further articles have appeared in the magazine and in PAM.
To date £19,000 has been raised and 90 reports have appeared on the database.
The original proposers of the motion, Joan Lunt and Dorothy Lee, wish to thank clubs that have given support and ask that they continue with their work, although the project has officially reached its conclusion.
Relationships Education – Year One update by Janet Hodgson
The Original Resolution (2012 Belfast) SIGBI in conference resolves to lobby governments to ensure that the school curriculum includes a statutory programme of classes relating to relationships, respect for self and others, human rights and civic responsibilities in order to create a global society in which all are respected and valued. Proposed: SI Southend-on-Sea & District and Seconded: SI Chelmsford – 64% voted FOR.
Members were given a detailed Action Plan for their consideration. Today, Janet Hodgson, APD for Learning Opportunities, gave delegates an update on progress at the end of the first year of this project.
Firstly, on behalf of the original proposers of the motion, SI Southend-on-Sea and SI Chelmsford, Janet thanked those clubs that had sent out the Schools Questionnaire.
Some clubs have written to their MPs re: an Amendment to the Children and Families Bill and, in the House of Lords, Baroness Massey has also been lobbying on behalf of Soroptimists.
In Scotland members have lobbied their Government and some funding has been committed for relationships education.
At the UN SI have teamed up with the Girl Guides Association to press for relationships education to be taught in schools throughout the world.
Not all countries have a National Curriculum. During the year Janet has written to a number of Ministers of Education and discovered that, even where PHSE, (Personal Health and Social Education) and citizenship is statutory the teaching of relationships education is not.
Janet has asked for some of the letters received to be put onto her page on the website. She also asks that clubs continue to find out about where there is good practice in schools and let her know, so that good practice can be shared.
From her research Janet has discovered that:
- 88% of teachers who completed returns think that relationships education should be statutory
- Only 60% of teachers have received training in citizenship, PHSE and relationships
- 54% would be uncomfortable in teaching this subject without training.
Clubs are asked to continue to support this project during its second year and please keep checking the website which will be regularly updated on this important subject.
Report by Anne MacDonald – Cheshire, North Wales & the Wirral Region