Various women stakeholders express their support to the regional launch of the Nationwide Cervical Cancer Screening Services Campaign of the DOH-MMCHD with a theme ‘Babae, Mahalaga Ka! Magpa-Cervical Cancer Screening na at magpakonsulta para ligtas ang every Juana.’ (Photo Courtesy: MMCHD)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – The Department of Health – Metro Manila Center for Health Development (DOH-MMCHD) is intensifying its campaign to encourage more Filipino women to get screened for cervical cancer.
During the regional launch of the Nationwide Cervical Cancer Screening Services in the National Capital Region (NCR) on May 14 at Quezon City, MMCHD Regional Director Rio Magpantay underscored the need to educate women about cervical cancer and its serious threat to public health.
“Mahalagang buksan ang kaisipan at kamalayan ng lahat patungkol sa sakit at ang kahalagahan ng mga screening para maagapan ang sakit na ito. Mahalaga ring balangkasin ang mga gawain at pagpapalawig ng kamalayan ng publiko,” said Magpantay, citing that health education is a key for women to access the different services available for prevention and early detection.
(It is important to open the minds and facilitate the consciousness of everyone to this disease and to the importance of screening to decrease its healthcare burden. It is also important to set out the activities that will broaden the awareness of the public.)
Meanwhile, during the rollout of the cervical cancer screening campaign in Mandaluyong, DOH Cluster Lead of Public Health Services Cluster Undersecretary Glenn Mathew Baggao expressed the collective commitment of the national health department in eliminating cervical cancer not only in the Philippines but also in the global community.
“Cervical cancer is a formidable adversary but it is one that we can defeat with early detection and appropriate intervention,” Baggao
“When we take care of women’s health, we also take care of our family. We take care of our nation. So please encourage your friends, neighbors to get vaccinated,” he added.
Despite being highly treatable, cervical cancer remains to be a significant public health issue in the Philippine context. In 2023, the DOH identified that at least 12 Filipino women die daily due to cervical cancer.
It also remains as the 2nd most frequent cancer among women, particularly those aged 15 to 44 years old.
To date, the number of Filipino women that were screened for cervical cancer is only at 1 percent out of the 70 percent target.
As early as 9 to 15 years old, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination can be availed in DOH hospitals and other public health facilities. It is a safe and effective tool to protect the women population from developing cervical cancer.
In addition, various screening tests are made available for the detection and prevention of cervical cancer including Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) and HPV-DNA test which can be complemented by other cytologic tests like pap smear.
Cervical cancer often shows no symptoms especially in its initial stages. Therefore, it is important for women to prioritize preventive health care to mitigate the impact of this disease.
The regional launch of the nationwide cervical cancer screening campaign has already been implemented in Quezon City and Pasay.
On May 28, the MMCHD is expected to rollout the campaign in Parañaque in promotion of cervical cancer screening in the workplace. This initiative forms part of the Cervical Cancer Consciousness Month observation this May 2024. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
