Mayor Honey Lacuna- Pangan led the Intensified Cervical Cancer Screening and Breast Examination at the Freedom Triangle, Manila City Hall on Monday, Sept. 11.
The mayor sought to raise awareness about the cervical and breast cancer among women in the city.
During the activity, she was accompanied by Manila Health Department chief Dr. Arnold “Poks” Pangan, Vice Mayor John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto, Department Public Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire, and Philippine Cancer Society program director Romeo Marcaida.
Lacuna- Pangan described the breast cancer and cervical cancer “alarming” as these are among the leading fatal diseases among women in the country.
She said the city’s public hospitals have the capability to detect cancer. However, it is usually too late for some women to recover because they only undergo medical checkup at the late stage already.
The lady mayor also encouraged all female employees and mothers in Manila to have themselves tested. She also expressed concern over the increase in cases of cervical cancer.
Lastly, she urged all women aged nine to 14 years old to avail of the city’s free vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes most cervical cancers as well as some cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina and oropharynx or the back of throat including base of tongue and tonsils.
Apart from pap smear and HPV vaccination, VIA or visual inspection with acetic acid is also being done for free at the city's 44 health centers.
“Ito ang mga bagay na simple lang gawin pero napakalaking tulong to prevent the number four cancer sa ating bansa (These are simple things to do but are very helpful in preventing the number four cancer in our country)," the mayor stressed, as she assured that the Manila Health Department will be behind every effort to keep all residents in the city health at all times.