Navotas City, Philippines – The Navotas City Health Office, with the support of Jhpiego Philippines through its Scale Up Cervical Cancer Elimination through Secondary Prevention (SUCCESS) Project and Centralized Laboratory Model for HPV Screening (CLAMS) Project, in partnership with the DOH Metro Manila Center for Health Development, successfully launched its Intensified Cervical Cancer Screening Campaign on Monday, 7 August 2023, at the Navotas City Hall.
This Intensified Cervical Cancer Screening Campaign aims to strengthen the city’s healthcare system by focusing on cervical cancer awareness and sensitization activities at the community level and in workplaces. This milestone initiative marks the introduction of HPV DNA testing as a secondary prevention strategy, which aims to contribute towards the city’s commitment to increase screening and early treatment coverage.
Dr. Jacqueline Inventor, NCD Medical Coordinator, emphasized that the Navotas City Health Office aspires to enhance the overall health and well-being of the community. “Cervical cancer remains a critical health issue for women, especially in the Philippines, and the objective of this program is to provide accessible and comprehensive early detection services to the women of Navotas City,” she said.
“By raising awareness and promoting preventive measures, such as the introduction of a new prevention strategy through HPV DNA testing with self-collection, we aim to improve service uptake and reduce preventable deaths,” she added.
Cervical cancer screening is crucial for early detection, enabling healthcare professionals to identify abnormal changes in the cervix before they progress into cancer, improving treatment success and overall survival rates. It serves as a preventive health measure, empowering women to protect their well-being by identifying precancerous lesions or early-stage cancer and implementing interventions to prevent disease progression and aggressive treatments.
“Regular Cervical cancer screening is an indispensable tool in our fight against this devastating disease. By detecting abnormalities early on, we can offer timely interventions and improve the chances of successful treatment, ultimately saving lives,” added Dr. Ingrid Magnata, Country Program Manager of Jhpiego Philippines.
The event also featured esteemed representatives from the Navotas City Health Office, DOH, local government officials, and dedicated healthcare professionals trained through Jhpiego’s capacity building activities.
“The launch event was an inspiring and collaborative effort to improve women’s healthcare in our city. Through the Navotas City Cervical Cancer Screening Program, we aim to empower women to take charge of their health and well-being,” commented Roselyn Sanchez, NCD Nurse Coordinator.
Screening programs have shown to substantially reduce cervical cancer-related mortality rates, combating a leading cause of women’s cancer deaths globally. By fostering awareness and knowledge about cervical health, regular screenings promote informed decisions regarding overall well-being and contribute to significant public health impacts, controlling and reducing cervical cancer cases on a community level, and enhancing the quality of life for women and their families.
As part of the program, the Navotas City Health Office remains committed to providing regular cervical cancer screenings and conducting educational sessions for women in the community. The office strongly encourages all eligible women aged 20-65 to participate in these screenings to ensure early detection and timely medical care if necessary.
Jhpiego also continues to offer its technical assistance to address any gaps in service delivery and to strengthen the capacity of public health facilities and the health workforce to provide high-quality care.