In celebration of Women’s Month, the women of Cordova and Sogod received free cervical cancer screening and breast exams.

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. – Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer (RAFI EJACC) and the local rural health units of the Municipalities of Sogod and Cordova, and with the support from GMA Kapuso Foundation and RAFI Micro Finance, offered free pap smear tests and clinical breast exams to the towns on March 28 and 30, respectively. A total of 244 women from the two towns received pap smear services.

Throughout the month of March, EJACC conducted a series of pap smear activities in partnership with the local government units of Mandaue City, Cebu City, Bogo City, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the Municipality of Sogod, the Municipality of Cordova, and GMA Kapuso Foundation.

For Marina Tano, a resident from Barangay Tabunok, Sogod, she has made it a habit to annually take a pap smear test to actively monitor her cervix. In 2013, she was diagnosed with small cysts in her cervix and was prescribed to monitor its status.

“Nakatabang gyod ning libreng pap smear kay para ma monitor nako akong ovary ug para makahibao sad ko nga okay ra. Kay simbako if pasagdan lang mahimong ning cancer. Mas mapanatag ko kung makahibao nakos resulta. […] Para sa mga kababain-an sama nako, di gyod angay nga mahadlok ta kay mas importante man gyod ang kada tuig nga magpa pap smear aron ma monitor sad atong matres ug ovary kung okay raba, makahibao tag unsa (ang estado ug healthy ba or dapat tambalan),” Tano shares.

EJACC enables communities to promote early cancer detection and provides appropriate care for Cebuanos with cancer. The program works closely with the Department of Health in the development and promotion of information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns. It likewise supports rural health units through capacity building initiatives, improves access to cancer screening, and enables early detection and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. EJACC provides extensive cancer treatment and survivorship support, including psychosocial activities and home visits and follow up care.

In 2022, EJACC supported 14,417 beneficiaries through mass and individual screening and provided 1,690 patients with cancer treatment support.

EJACC encourages for every eligible woman to undergo pap smear tests to help prevent cervical cancer and ensure its early detection.

Early cancer detection saves lives.