In celebration of the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, the Department of Health Bicol Center for Health Development (DOH Bicol) in partnership with the Naga City Health Office (CHO) and the Philippine Obstetric and Gynecological Society (POGS) launched the start of the Nationwide Cervical Cancer Screening campaign in the Bicol Region on May 21, 2024 at the PAGCOR Event Center, Naga City.
Dr. Rosa Maria B. Rempillo, DOH Bicol OIC-Director III acknowledged the importance of women in society and the stakeholders that continuously provide support to the cancer programs of the department. She further encouraged everyone to get tested for early detection of cervical cancer.
Ms. Julie Ann Granadino, DOH Bicol Regional Program Manager of the National Integrated Cancer Control Program, provided the briefer for the Nationwide Cervical Cancer Campaign. She said that the DOH Bicol targets to screen 51,921 women or 5% of the women population in the region.
Dr. Alma M. Bresnan, Center Head of the Regional Cancer Center of Bicol Medical Center (BMC) and the Chapter President of POGS provided a brief lecture on Cervical Cancer and other interventions. She also assured the commitment of BMC in providing support to the Cancer Control Program and initiatives as well as provision of assistance to cancer patients through their Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF).
With the support and pools of trained Health Care Workers from BMC, POGS and CHO, a Cervical Cancer Screening Activity was conducted to women from the eligible population of 30 to 65 years old.
The event featured a panel discussion with Dr. Ronaldo Amaranto, City Health Officer II, Dr. Monrey Isaiah C. Mancilla, Cluster Head of the Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Control Cluster (NCDPCC)/Concurrent Head for the Health Promotion Unit (HPU) of DOH Bicol and Ms. Evy Barrios of BMC.
This was followed by a Ceremonial Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination led by Dr. Mancilla and Ms. Marie Therese Kristine Nolial, DOH Bicol Regional Program Manager of the National Immunization Program.
This initiative, rooted in the communities, will provide accelerated and accessible service delivery mechanism to intensify efforts on cervical cancer elimination in the country thus covering full continuum of essential health services from detection, prevention, treatment to palliative care which the universal health coverage speaks of thus achieving the vision of a Bagong Pilipinas.
(Source: DOH Bicol CHD)