The WA Cervical Cancer Prevention Program funding will allow the centre to run the free pap smear clinic for indigenous women every Friday until June 24.
FWHC clinical services manager Dawn Needham said women who were sexually active between the ages of 18 and 69 needed to be encouraged to have regular pap smears as part of their ongoing health and wellbeing.
“In 2013-14 the south-west region had a cervical screening participation rate of 56.4 per cent, which is greater than the State rate of 55.5 per cent,” she said.
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READ NOW“While this is encouraging, it shows there is still a large number of women who do not screen regularly and are therefore at risk of developing cervical cancer.
“Our purpose is to improve women’s physical and mental health and wellbeing in the south-west metropolitan region, prioritising the needs of women with the highest risk of poor health outcomes.”
Among the centre’s other services are counselling, breast examinations, help with pregnancy and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.
The centre also celebrated International Women’s Day last week with a high tea for local residents.
The Fremantle Women’s Health Centre is on South Street, Fremantle.
Visit www.fwhc.org.au for more.