Above
After years of pressure from 9/11 survivors and first responders, uterine cancer is the latest addition to the growing list of health care under the World Trade Center Health Program, health officials decided Wednesday, allowing people connected to the 2001 attacks to receive it. free treatment for this disease.
People evacuate the area around the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 in New York City.
Important Points
Many people who were part of the rescue and recovery after 9/11 or had the dust created by the attack were exposed to carcinogens that left them with diseases, uterine cancer among them.
However, the authorities initially believed that there was insufficient evidence related to 9 / 11 in relation to the treatment of cervical cancer, a document from the federal Department of Health and Human Services announcing the change in policy has been revealed.
The move comes after an aggressive request to HHS from Rep. Frank Pallone Jr (DN.J.) earlier this month, and the decision to begin covering cervical cancer was released last year.
Some women have been waiting more than a decade for cervical cancer screening, Pallone wrote in a January 9 letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, saying “it’s been eight months since this law was enacted and these women and their families are still waiting.”
WTC Health Program Administrator John Howard said the decision fills a critical gap — before Wednesday’s announcement that the only cancer targeting women was breast cancer, which has been on the list since 2013.
Big Number
As of September 2022, there are more than 120,000 responders and survivors enrolled in the World Trade Center health care program, women making up 23% of the participants, according to CDC data.
The First Secret
Survivors and first responders have fought to ensure that the World Trade Center health program is funded since it was launched in 2010. Many of these patients can benefit from this for the rest of their lives, as the WTC Health Program was reauthorized until 2090 in 2015. First responders and survivors can get free screenings. , counseling and, if necessary, free treatment for diseases affected by the program. Some members of Congress tried to stuff money into the program at the end of last year, but the congressional leadership cut the measure from the $1.7 trillion omnibus that was given to support the government.
What We Don’t Know
How many people will this affect?
Further Reading
The only cancer that will not be covered in 9/11 women (The Fuller Project)
9/11 Survivors Are Winners (Forbes)
