ILOILO — The Iloilo provincial government is shifting to a more aggressive, community-based strategy to stop cervical cancer, rolling out expanded prevention and screening programs that will directly reach women in some of the province’s most isolated island and geographically disadvantaged barangays.
Marking the Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Day on Nov. 17, provincial health authorities announced the start of a large-scale demonstration program under the SUCCESS FAP Phase III initiative, which will provide free HPV DNA self-collection kits to more than 17,000 women aged 30 to 49 in the island and GIDA barangays of Carles, Estancia, and Lemery.
Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon renewed the call for residents to take preventive measures through vaccination and screening.
“Let’s end cervical cancer in the province of Iloilo, and nationwide. Let’s vaccinate our children 9-14 years old, and women ages 30-49 years should get screening for cervical cancer. Vaccines for children 9-14 years old are free,” she said.
The provincial government emphasized that cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women, based on World Health Organization (WHO) studies, but is also one of the most preventable through early detection and immunization.
Expanded services for hard-to-reach communities
Through partnerships with the Cancer Warriors Foundation and the Department of Health (DOH), Iloilo will expand screening access using innovative, women-centered approaches, including:
* Self-collection HPV DNA testing, considered more acceptable and empowering
* Task-sharing among trained primary care physicians, nurses, and midwives
* Strengthened referral pathways to ensure timely treatment
“All women sa three priority areas will be given a free access of cervical cancer screening like self-collection HPV DNA test kits,” said Dr. Rodney Labis, head of the IPHO Health Service Delivery Division.
Women diagnosed with pre-cancerous lesions will be treated by trained primary care physicians or referred to specialists at the Western Visayas Medical Center under screen-and-treat and screen-triage-treat pathways.
Province urges women and parents to act now
After Monday’s flag ceremony, Labis also encouraged all women working at the Iloilo provincial capitol to undergo screening — and urged parents to avail of free HPV vaccines for their daughters.
“Let us support school-based immunization naton nga gina-conduct yearly and have your girls ages 9 to 14 vaccinated against HPV which is for free,” he said.
He warned that private clinics charge P4,000 to P6,000 per dose for HPV vaccines.
Screening options already available province-wide
While the SUCCESS FAP Phase III rollout is being finalized, eligible women may already access screening through:
* VIA at all Rural Health Units
* VIA and Pap Smear in district hospitals
* OB-GYN clinics across the province
Labis stressed that screening is crucial: pre-cancerous lesions can be detected early and treated before developing into full-blown cancer.
“It is caused by human papillomavirus and all women are at risk of cervical cancer pero good news cervical cancer can be prevented,” he said.
Clear commitment from provincial government
In a statement, IPHO reiterated its adherence to the WHO Global Strategy to eliminate cervical cancer through Primary Prevention (HPV vaccination) and Secondary Prevention (screening and timely treatment).
“The Province of Iloilo remains committed to bringing life-saving cervical cancer services closer to women — ensuring equitable, accessible, and sustainable prevention efforts aligned with the global cervical cancer elimination agenda,” Labis added./PN
