Medical checkup pushed

For pregnant women in reproductive age

NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley - In celebration of the Safe Motherhood Week and Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, the Provincial Health Office of Compostela Valley (PHO-Comval) urged pregnant mothers and women in reproductive age to subject themselves to medical check-up.

In a program called Buntis Congress, Dr. Mary Cyrel Pasaol of PHO-Comval advised the pregnant mothers, especially those teenagers, to consult their doctors to ensure their and their child’s wellbeing.

Dr. Pasaol also encouraged the women in reproductive age, especially those who have sexual experience, to subject themselves to pap smear two years after their first sexual experience to prevent cervical cancer.

She explained that cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death among women, next to breast cancer.

Around 80 pregnant mothers and women in reproductive age participated in the 2018 Buntis Congress and Cervical Cancer Awareness Program on May 18 in Maco town.

During the program, the PHO offered free medical check-up, counseling on teenage pregnancy, nutrition counseling, laboratory, ultrasound and dental check-up for pregnant mothers; and visual inspection using acetic acid and pap smear for women on reproductive age.

Held in Barangay Elizalde in Maco town, the health office also catered women from eight other neighboring barangays, namely Kinuban, Panibasan, Tagbaros, Panangan, New Barili, Limbo, Gubatan and Mainit.

According to the PHO, data from their school shows that Maco town has the highest number of teenage pregnancy in the province, with 32 teenage pregnant women from January to March 2018. Compostela Valley has more than 200 pregnant women in the same period. PIA11, Michael Uy