More than 100 Dabawenyo women availed of the free services offered by the City Health Office and Department of Health XI, such as cervical cancer screening, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) testing, and HPV (human papillanomavirus) vaccination at the Almendras Gym on May 9, 2024.
The purpose of the event is for early detection of cervical cancer in women.
DOH-DCHD Assistant Regional Director Dr. David A. Mendoza, in a speech during the event, underscored that the rate of deaths due to cervical cancer at the national level is 12 per day.
He said that the factor of death is finding out the cervical cancer at a later stage. Cervical cancer is treatable as long as it has been discovered at an earlier stage.
David also noted 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, in an interview, 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.
“Treatable po siya pag early ma diagnose siya at kung mabigyan ng early treatment (It is treatable if it is diagnosed early and given early treatment),” Acosta said.
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.
For Davao City in 2023, cervical cancer claimed 88 lives of women, and this year, it claimed 10 lives. CIO
