CITY OF MALOLOS – The Department of Health (DOH) has launched an intensified campaign to eliminate cervical cancer at the Joni Villanueva General Hospital in Bocaue, Bulacan on Thursday as part of the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month this May with the theme “Babae, Mahalaga Ka!” that aims to encourage women to undergo cervical screening for their well-being.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire underscored the campaign’s focus on counseling, screening, and treatment. She noted that the initiative aims to educate women about cervical cancer and its prevention.
As part of the campaign, cervical screening such as pap smears will be available at all rural health units for women aged 35 and above.
Vergeire also revealed a startling statistic: 12 women die every day from cervical cancer in the Philippines.
Prior to the launching of the campaign, the Provincial Government of Bulacan headed by Governor Daniel R. Fernando and Vice Governor Alexis C. Castro, through the Provincial Health Office – Public Health, has launched a free HPV vaccine (Anti-Cervical Cancer) to be given at rural health units to young girls ages 9-14 years old.
This effort aims to increase early detection and improve outcomes for those at risk.
In his message, Castro emphasized the importance of women’s health stating, “Prevention is better than cure. Kung mape-prevent natin ang cervical cancer sa mga kababaihan, marami pong mga ospital ang luluwag at marami pong mga kababaihan ang maililigtas natin. Dahil minsan, kung kailan malala, doon po naghahabol. Pero kung lahat ng kababaihan ay mai-screen natin sa lalong madaling panahon, mas mainam, bago dumapo, mai-cure na agad natin.”
Likewise, he mentioned that his office has also initiated a program on the conduct of breast cancer screening.
“Sa pamamagitan ng opisina natin, nagkakaroon tayo ng breast cancer screening sa mga kababaihan. At maganda po ngayon, magkasama na, may breast cancer at cervical cancer screening na. Talagang lahat ay matutulungan natin ang mga kababaihan upang maiwasan ang sakit na cancer,” he added.
