DAVAO CITY —Over 100 women from all over the city availed of the free services for early detection of cervical cancer in women.
The free screening was offered by the City Health Office and Department of Health XI last Thursday at the Almendras Gym.
Aside from the cervical cancer screening, the health office also provided HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) testing, and HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination.
Dr. David A. Mendoza, DOH-DCHD Assistant Regional Director, in his speech, cited that twelve women die every day due to cervical cancer at the national level.
For Davao City in 2023, cervical cancer claimed 88 lives of women, and this year, it claimed 10 lives.
Though Cervical cancer is treatable as long as it has been discovered at an earlier stage, David revealed that only a small percentage of women undergo cervical cancer screening, which is why it needs to be pushed through the conduct of free screening.
Davao City Health Office Technical Division Head Dr. Julinda Acosta, said that among the symptoms of cervical cancer are unusual bleeding between periods, pain during sexual intercourse, pain in the lower abdomen, fatigue, and sudden weight loss.
Acosta said that their targets for the HPV vaccine are the 9-14-year-olds so that they will be protected even before infection. The age target was due to findings of studies that it is during this age that the HPV vaccine is very effective.
She added that adults can also get vaccines of this type from private clinics as the free vaccines provided by CHO are for the 9-14-year-olds.
Meanwhile, Acosta added that they have targeted to vaccinate about 9,000 of the 9-14-year-olds in 2023 however, only a small portion, or about 1,000 were able to avail of the first dose.
Among the reasons is vaccine hesitancy given that the target age group needs parental consent.
While vaccines are for younger age groups, cervical cancer screening was offered for women 30-65 years old during the event. Participants during the activity also availed of free HIV testing.
Acosta urged women to have themselves screened because should cancerous lesions be found, they may be referred to a specialist so that it will be managed and treated.
