The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday urged women to get screened for cervical cancer to boost survival rates for the disease, which kills more than 12 daily and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Filipino women.
“The tragedy of cervical cancer deaths is that this cancer is preventable and treatable. In fact, in developed countries, cervical cancer is much less common because screening and vaccination are well-established,” Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said.
“Our goal now in the Philippines is to institutionalize HPV (human papillomavirus) immunization and screening so that our precious women will no longer die of cervical cancer,” she said.
In observance of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month this May, the DOH offers free cervical screenings using the VIA (visual inspection using acetic acid) method for women aged 25 to 55 years in selected DOH hospitals nationwide.
“With regular screening, women will know if there are changes in their cervix due to HPV infection, which may eventually progress into cancer,” she said.
According to Ubial, nearly 100 percent of cervical cancer cases are caused by HPV.
“It is unfortunate that, every day, more than 12 women die from this disease, primarily because they are detected late and are not given early protection,” she said.
As part of its National Cancer Prevention and Control Program, the DOH will spearhead this year’s commemoration of Cervical Cancer Consciousness Month with the theme “Babae, Mahalaga Ka! Magpa-Screen, Now Na!” (Woman, you are priceless! Get screened at once!)