A new film aims to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination against the cancer-causing human papillomavirus.

Cheryl Staurulakis, a producer for the film Someone You Love: The HPV Epidemic, is working with the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre and the Bermuda Department of Health to bring HPV and cervical cancer awareness in January next year, to mark Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

The film follows five women through their battle with cervical cancer. It deals with the social stigma of HPV, the social issues, and explains the virus and the cancers it causes. It delivers the message that the illness is preventable through vaccination.

Cervical cancer is the second highest rate of cancer in women in Bermuda while the HPV vaccination rate in Bermuda is 20 per cent.

Ms Staurulakis and her husband are donating a copy of the film to all 33 schools in Bermuda and to the Bermuda College.

Ms Staurulakis said: “If we could have every parent view our film, we could potentially knock out of Bermuda the most prevalent virus in the world and the six cancers it causes.

“Our intent with making this donation is for the schools to have the ability to educate their parents and older students about HPV. They can even use film screening opportunities as fundraisers for their schools.

“They will have the film forever and can screen it as many times as they want. We will also have a screening at BUEI for medical professionals and others important to our campaign and a public free film screening at Bermuda College.”

The targeted date for the BUEI screening is January 14, 2016.