The Quezon City government has intensified its campaign against cervical cancer by promoting preventive measures and ensuring accessible screenings for women.
On Wednesday, the city officially launched its Cervical Cancer Elimination Campaign, focusing on awareness, early detection, and improved treatment options.
“Our screening is ongoing in all 66 health centers, nine lying-in clinics, and nine sundown and social hygiene clinics,” said Karen See, Cancer Control Coordinator of the Quezon City Health Department (QCHD), during a media briefing.
Quezon City’s sundown and social hygiene clinics offer free and confidential sexual health services, including testing and treatment for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and STIs (sexually transmitted infections), alongside cervical cancer screenings.
To bolster its efforts, the city partnered in 2021 with Jhpiego, a nonprofit affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, to train QCHD staff on self-testing kits for women aged 30 to 49.
“We teach women how to collect their specimen, return it to us, and results are ready within days,” See explained. Women who test positive receive further assessment and treatment, such as thermal ablation or referrals to gynecologic oncologists for advanced care.
Pioneering initiatives
Quezon City stands out as the first city in the Philippines to establish the Integrated Cancer Control Program, aligned with the 2019 National Integrated Cancer Control Act.
Recently, the QCHD collaborated with South Star Drug to distribute self-testing kits at select branches, beginning with its Matalino branch. This initiative aims to make screening more convenient and accessible for women nationwide.
Progress in numbers
In 2024, the city screened approximately 16,000 women, identifying 237 individuals with potential precancerous conditions.
See reassured women that a positive result does not equate to a cancer diagnosis but typically indicates an infection that requires treatment.
“Let’s not fear screening. Early detection saves lives,” she emphasized.
With its robust approach to awareness, accessibility, and early intervention, Quezon City continues to lead the charge in combating cervical cancer and safeguarding women’s health.
