MANILA, Philippines—Women living in Marikina City can now avail themselves of free testing for breast cancer, part of the first community-based awareness campaign which aims to reduce the rising number of cases nationwide.

The program was launched on Friday by the city government led by Mayor Marides C. Fernando, breast cancer advocacy group ICanServe and pharmaceutical company Pfizer.

Kara Alikpala, ICanServe founding president, said that “Kamay sa Dibdib (Hand on Chest),” encourages women to examine their breasts for signs of cancer such as lumps.

Alikpala said breast self-examination could save lives especially if the cancer is detected in the early stages.

The doctors, nurses and midwives assigned in Marikina’s 16 barangay (village) health centers were trained by ICanServe to teach women how to examine their breasts.

Alikpala said the Marikina City government has not only pledged its full support for the awareness campaign but has also promised to share in the medical expenses of residents who may need to undergo treatment for the disease.

“We think it is unethical to promote awareness of breast cancer without giving assistance for the treatment of these women,” she added.

Fernando said they were also planning to raise funds to buy a mammography machine to provide residents a more accurate way of testing for breast cancer.

She added that their partnership with ICanServe could also provide Marikina women an opportunity to tap the group’s extensive network of people who know a lot about breast cancer.

“We want all the women of Marikina to learn to check or examine themselves for breast cancer,” said Fernando.

Data from the Department of Health showed that breast cancer is still the most common type of cancer among Filipino women, with about 14,000 cases recorded in 2005.

Fernando said it was high time breast cancer awareness campaigns were brought down to the community level, where ordinary women do not always get access to information about the disease.