On Friday, the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network or CECAP will once again give recognition to outstanding projects designed to make cervical cancer a thing of the past.
It will be the third year that awards for best practices in cervical cancer prevention will be given. But unlike last year which was just a forum, Friday’s activity will be a whole-day event. There will be a conference of experts and advocates, exhibits and a mobile clinic to be held at the Philippine General Hospital on Taft Avenue.
There are plans to have the mobile clinic inaugurated on Thursday.
CECAP is an alliance of organizations from the private and public sectors committed to eliminate cancer in the country. It is one of the projects of the Cancer Institute Foundation (CIF), a non-profit, non-stock foundation that provides support to the PGH Cancer Institute and its other accredited cancer management network institutions.
Making the Philippines cervical cancer-free has become attainable since the breakthrough discovery many years ago that cervical cancer is caused by a persistent infection with cancer-causing Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). This has led to the development of anti-cervical cancer vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix.
But the key to that objective is prevention and early detection. It is important therefore that women are tested regularly.
CECAP advocates the Single-Visit Approach (SVA), which combines screening and treatment in one visit. It uses an effective, low-resource screening method called the Visual Inspection of the cervix with Acetic Acid (VIA), a simple technique that uses vinegar to detect precancerous lesions on the cervix and requires much less equipment and time investment than a PAP smear. When necessary, treatment is done through cryotherapy, a process where the areas with lesions are frozen using a common liquid coolant like carbon dioxide, effectively eliminating the abnormality and preventing possible progression to cancer.
Last year, Muntinlupa got the Best Practice grand prize which shows how the community could be inspired to participate in a laudable program if you have a concerned and dedicated leader. Rep. Ruffy Biazon used his Community Development Fund to set up a mobile clinic, manned by PGH-trained personnel that would go around the communities offering testing for cervical cancer. The concept is: “If the mountain cannot come to Mohammed, Mohammed will go to the mountain.”
Muntinlupa’s mobile clinic has been upgraded and its visits to communities have also become an event. To be able to service more women, the travelling clinic now includes air-conditioned tents where testings are conducted.
Among other awards that would be given are for most promising regional health center; best health provider, best legislator, best support group.
CECAP recognizes the importance of media support and it will give awards to the best print article, TV feature and radio program.
Cervical cancer has remained as the second most common cancer among Filipino women. One of every three of 33 per cent of women afflicted with cervical cancer die within one year and 73% or nearly 3 of every 4 of the new cases die within 5 years.
The reason for this is the late detection of the disease: in 2 of every 3 new cases diagnosed each year, the malignancy was already at its advanced or fatal stage by the time it was detected.
It should not be so because a simple infection of the HPV virus may take 10 to 30 years to progress to cancer, which gives woman ample time to visit her doctor to learn preventive ways to combat this killer disease. This is where CECAP’s advocacy wants to focus: prevention and early detection.
CECAP’s Director Dr. Cecilia Llave said the theme of this year’ Best Practice Event is “Ka-Isa Ako” and stresses the importance of a woman in our lives.
She shared these thoughts:
We may have many women in our lives but only one mother; have many lovers but one true love.
In our life’s journey, there are tales to share but only one story.
Let us continue the story of the woman in each of our lives that matter to us… the famous, the unheard, the prominent, and the silent.
After all, it just takes one visit, one test, one shot in one minute. One life is saved and that story of a great mom, wife, sister, leader, and friend continues.
It lingers. It stays.”
Mas lalong tumibay ang paniniwala kong karapat-dapat iluklok si Ruffy Biazon sa Senado.
It’s the anxieties and fear-factors that comes with the tests that mostly are keeping them out as well as their own individual finances. Too often, the adage “bahala na sa akin ang Panginoon” hovers over the air.
Life is about survival, so they should be educated about the pros and cons of the disease and this is where Congressman Biazon (if he is that dedicated) comes in, spread the word throughout the country, not just his domain.