(L-R): Cebu City Health Department City Health Officer Dr. Daisy Villa, DOH 7 Non-Communicable Disease Unit Head Dr. Joan Albito, Vicente Sotto Medical Center OB-Gyn Specialist Dr. Yasmine Marave, and Visayas Human Development Agency Representative Aura Agbay during the Cervical Cancer Elimination Program Launch on May 8, 2025. (PIA7)
CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — Barangay Health Worker Antonieta Heredia, 38, embraced the opportunity to undergo a human papillomavirus (HPV) test without hesitation upon learning about the Department of Health’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Program.
She immediately availed herself of the free HPV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) self-collect test offered through the program.
HPV DNA testing is a medical procedure used to detect the presence of HPV genetic material in cells collected from the cervix.
“Wala ko nagduha-duha pagkahibaw nako nga nay bag-ong program ang DOH bahin sa HPV ug Cervical Cancer. Ni undergo jud ko ug self-collection. Sa pag self-collect nako, nakulbaan ug nahadlok ko pero nawala raman dayon,” Heredia said. (I did not think twice when I heard that DOH has a new program for HPV and cervical cancer. I immediately did the self-collection. When I had the self-collection, I was nervous and scared, but it soon went away.)
Seven days after submitting her sample, Heredia received a call from the medical clinic informing her that she tested positive for HPV.
“After 7 days gitawagan ko para makuha ang result. Adto nakit-an na positive ko sa HPV. Gi-refer dayon ko aron matambalan. Dako kayo kog pasalamat ani kay na tambalan jud ko,” Heredia shared. (After 7 days I was called to get my results, and there I found out I was positive for HPV. I was then referred to the hospital. I am very thankful for this because I was treated.)
Pilot Area
In observance of Cervical Cancer Prevention Awareness Month this May, the Department of Health (DOH) launched its Cervical Cancer Elimination Program in Cebu City, which was chosen as the pilot area for Central Visayas.
The program is a collaborative effort involving the Centralized Laboratory Model for HPV DNA Screening (CLAMS), Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (Jhpiego), Visayas Human Development Agency (ViHDA), and
the Cebu City Health Office.
According to Dr. Joan Albito, head of the DOH Central Visayas’ Non-Communicable Disease Unit, ranks cervical cancer as the fourth most common cancer among women.
“Around 39.6 million women ages 15 years and older are at risk of developing cervical cancer. It ranks second in incidence and fourth in mortality,” Albito said.
While highly incurable once advanced, cervical cancer is preventable through vaccination against HPV, the primary cause of the disease.
Data from DOH reveals that in Central Visayas, out of a total female population of 1,500,390, only 4,353, or 0.29 percent, have been screened for HPV.
Albito explained that the program will focus on the World Health Organization’s 90-70-90 elimination strategy.
“Ninety percent of girls are fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15, 70 percent of women are screened with a high-performance test by age 35, and
90 percent of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment,” Albito elaborated.
Republic Act 11215, also known as the National Integrated Cancer Control Act, mandates the establishment of a national framework for the prevention, early detection, comprehensive treatment, and patient care of cancer, ensuring access to all cancer services for all Filipinos regardless of their circumstances.
The law also established the National Cancer Control Council, which oversees the country’s multi-sectoral approach to combating cancer. In Central Visayas, DOH7 has formed the Regional Integrated Cancer Control Committee to implement the national cancer control program.(ZCL/PIA7)
