SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – As part of taking care of the health needs of its constituents and to address diseases affecting women, the local government unit of Bacnotan held a breast cancer risk screening and human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination at the Conference Center in Bacnotan, La Union on October 12.
 
This is in support to the celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month where a total of 54 girls ages nine to 10 were vaccinated with the HPV vaccine while 13 mothers underwent breast cancer screening.

The Department of Health (DOH) Region 1 and the Bacnotan Municipal Health Office (MHO) meanwhile teamed-up for the identification of beneficiaries and the subsequent administration of the services.

Bacnotan Mayor Divine Fontanilla says that the activity aims to bring government programs and services closer to the people and to ensure that all the municipality’s constituents who are in need are given necessary assistance.

“Aside from this being a part of the celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness month, nakikita namin na mahalaga at nararapat na mailapit ang mga ganitong serbisyong medikal sa aming Kailian para matulungan sila as early as now to prevent diseases particularly 'yong cancer na mag develop,” Mayor Fontanilla said.

Mayor Fontanilla also said that the Municipal Health Office (MHO) shall also be open to cater to the health needs of the people of the municipality from Monday through Sunday starting next week, from 8AM to 5PM.

Ms. Jennelyn Bucaoto, whose daughter got the free HPV shot, said that the vaccination is essential since it prevents her daughter from getting the HPV later on.

“Iti maibagak ket mayat daytoy ta para iti salun-at iti ubbing lalo ket first stages ti panagdakkel da (What I can say is that this is good for the health of children especially since they are in the early stages of their development),” Ms. Bucaoto said.

A data from the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS) have showed that there are an estimated 27,000 new cases of breast cancer reported every year.
 
Of which,  9,000 perished because of it.
 
According to PIDS Research Fellow Valerie Ulep, breast cancer screenings in the country are far lower in comparison to upper middle-income countries, necessitating the need to participate in screenings whenever it becomes available.
 
Ulep added that many Filipino women do not have access to preventive screening for breast cancer, despite modern medicines such as targeted therapy that are able to cure the disease. (JCR/AMB/CCMT, PIA La Union)