As part of the city’s initiatives to combat cervical cancer, the City Government of Davao, through the City Health Office (CHO), conducted a mass Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) screening program on Tuesday, March 11, at Tomas Claudio Health Center Poblacion District.
Dr. Vilma Gonzaga, District Health Officer of Tomas Claudio Health Center, said the VIA test is the simplest method for detecting cervical cancer.
She emphasized the need for early identification to reduce the number of women having cervical cancer as it is still one of the most common cancers among women.
“Ang uban man gud wala gyud sila’y pakialam sa ilahang mga lawas unya wala sila kabalo naa na diay mga bukol sa ilahang totoy or usahay naa na’y deperensya sa ilahang cervix kay wala gyud nakapa-check-up (Some women don’t give much thought to their body, and because they didn’t get checked, they are not aware that they have breast lumps or cervical abnormalities),” she said.
“Kailangan gyud mag-avail sa VIA (screening) kay diha man god makita kung naa ba’y possible nga deperensya sa ilahang cervix. Pag naa na’y possible nga deperensya ma-refer dayon namo sila sa higher nga facility like SPMC (Southern Philippines Medical Center) or private facility (It is really necessary to avail of the VIA screening in order to determine whether there is a potential issue in their cervix. If there are potential anomalies, we can send them immediately to a better facility like SPMC (Southern Philippines Medical Center) or a private facility),” she added.
She said 70 women took advantage of the free VIA screening. A Pap smear test was also performed on 38 of the 70 women for additional assessment.
Gonzaga also urged women to take advantage of the free screenings offered in health centers The Tomas Claudio Health Center offers such tests every Tuesday.
The screening is free and is open to females aged 21 years old and above and even to those under 21 years old who are sexually active. The mass screening is conducted every Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CIO
