May 12-18, 2011
It is curable if detected early- Dr. Juarez
A group of socially committed obstetricians in Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley is presently launching various activities aimed to make the public aware that cervical cancer that hits women is curable and there is a need that it should be detected.
The current awareness-raising activities and outreach services of the local chapter of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, Inc. (POGS) are timed during this Cervical Cancer Awareness Month of May.
Activities include a forum on women’s cancer and free clinic on May 28 at the Gaisano Grand Mall, free cervical cancer screening every Friday at the Davao Regional Hospital, raffle draw for a cause, community advocacy programs including one aimed to decrease teenage pregnancy, consultations and outreach clinics.
POGS forum on women’s cancer in coordination with the City Health Office and private partners would have renowned physician- obstetricians and POGS fellows as resource speakers on topics on cervical, breast and colorectal cancers that afflict women.
The forum would also have a testimony of a cancer survivor, awarding of certificates and announcement of POGS raffle winners.
In the press conference Thursday hosted by POGS-Southern Mindanao Chapter, Dr. Mariebeth Juarez bared that while statistics on the mortality of cervical cancer is low in the provinces there might be more cases not reported as these did not reach to clinics or hospitals.
She said that as of 2010 there were only three women who died out of the 24 admitted cases.
But mortality of the female genital cancer in the region has been consistently rising through the years as in 2005 there were 56 deaths and in 2008 and 2009 there were 104 and 119 deaths, respectively, Dr. Juarez bared.
To combat this, POGS has been intensifying its advocacy for women to undergo cervival cancer screening as the disease is curable if detected early.
Also giving orientation about the disease to the local media during the press conference were DOH assistant secretary and DRH chief of hospital Dr. Romulo Busuego, and POGS fellows Dr. Amelia Avelina-Vega and Dr. Edilyn Badilla. (Rural Urban News/Cha Monforte)
Filed under: Dr. Amelia Avelina-Vega, Dr. Edilyn Badilla, Dr. Mariebeth Juarez, Dr. Edilyn Badilla, Dr. Mariebeth Juarez, POGS fellows Dr. Amelia Avelina-Vega
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