75K women eyed for cervical cancer screening

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Health Western Visayas (DoH6) announced its initiative to screen 75,628 women in the region for cervical cancer over the next two months.

This target figure represents a portion of the 1,469,130 women eligible for screening in Western Visayas.

“We, at the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development, are reinforcing our campaign against cervical cancer by focusing on disease prevention and early detection,” said DoH-6 director Dr. Adriano Suba-an.

The DoH-6 will utilize either Pap smear, visual inspection with acetic acid wash (VIA), or DNAbased testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing for the screenings.

Suba-an urged women ages 3065 years old to undergo cervical cancer screening and treatment, which is available in hospitals such as the Western Visayas Medical Center.

DoH-6 aims to screen 5,676 women in Aklan, 5,448 in Antique, 7,507 in Capiz, 1,775 in Guimaras, 19,204 in Iloilo Province and 4,596 in Iloilo City.

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental eyes to screen at least 23,470 women, while 5,965 are targeted in Bacolod City.

“Cervical cancer, when detected early, is curable. Early detection is a crucial step to allow health care providers to identify and manage before they develop into a serious condition,” Suba-an added.

He further emphasized that a Pap smear should be done three years after the first vaginal intercourse, but not earlier than age 21, and must be done every year for three years.

Meanwhile, for unmarried women who have never engaged in sexual activity, a Pap smear should be done at age 35.

Suba-an explained that VIA is an acceptable alternative to Pap smear in low-resource settings.

“The DoH-6 is also strongly advocating for the eligible population to get vaccinated. HPV vaccines can help protect against cervical cancer. Thus, a shot of HPV vaccine can protect one against the said disease,” he added.

Earlier this April, the DoH-6 marked its 50 years of immunization with the inoculation of HPV vaccines to girls ages 9-14 years in Santa Barbara, Iloilo.

In the Philippines, cervical cancer ranks as the second leading cancer among women, with 37.8 million at risk, next to lung cancer.

It’s primarily caused by HPV transmission through sexual activity, particularly affecting individuals with multiple sexual partners or early onset of sexual activity.