The Department of Health – Metro Manila Center for Health Development (DOH-MMCHD) on Friday launched cervical cancer screening services in the region.

DOH-MMCHD director Rio Magpantay said the agency is intensifying efforts to screen females aged 30 to 65 years old in identified health facilities or health centers in Metro Manila to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is characterized by the growth of abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost all cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Data from the WHO shows approximately 8,549 new cervical cancer cases were diagnosed in the Philippines in 2022.

Currently, cervical cancer is the third most common among Filipino women after breast and colorectal cancers.

Magpantay said the DOH conducts awareness campaign for men and women about cervical cancer and implement HPV Immunization program for girls aged 9 to 14 years.

“This is in coordination with the Department of Education, sa schools ginagawa nung umpisa, para captive agad iyong mga bata. Subalit sa ngayon hindi na pinayagan sa schools kaya sa mga community na lang namin ginagawa (it is conducted in schools before, so the children are captive immediately. But now, it is no longer allowed in schools, so we do it in communities),” he said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.

Meantime, DOH-MMCHD Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control Cluster medical officer Shaymae Pearl Ufano said cervical cancer could be detected through Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) screening, pap smear, and HPV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing.

“Mas nagagamit at nabibigay ng libre sa ating mga health center ay iyong (What is usually utilized and provided in our health centers is the) visual inspection with acetic acid, available since early 2000 in the NCR (National Capital Region) and continuous in all health centers for the whole year,” she said.

She noted high risk women, like women living with HIV, must be screened at an earlier age of 25 for early detection and prevention of cervical cancer.

Since some women are “shy” to get screened in health facilities, Magpantay said the DOH is pushing for the HPV DNA test.

“Sila mismo ang kokolekta sa kanilang sarili tapos isa-submit na lang nila (They will collect [specimens] on their own and submit) for examination in our laboratories, so ibig sabihin (which means) the collection is very private,” he said.

“Hindi nagtatapos sa screening. Halimbawa, mayroon kaming nade-detect, agad iyon nire-refer sa kina-uukulan. Meron naman po sa gobyerno na medical assistance, so, e-enroll namin sila doon (It doesn’t stop with the screening. For example, we detect [cancer], we refer it immediately. The government has medical assistance, so, we will enrol them there), particularly in government hospitals,” he added.

Residents from Pasay City and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) attended the launch. (PNA)