by Lorie Ann A. Cascaro
Among 126 women screened for breast cancer, 30 have suspicious lumps, five have lumps considered highly suspicious–possibly cancerous.
These figures cover only three barangays of Panabo City, particularly, San Pedro, Gredu and New Pandan, among the 40 barangays. How many more women should be alerted not only in Panabo, but in the Davao region?
These women were the first beneficiaries of the free breast cancer detection program of the local government of Panabo and the ICANSERVE Foundation, Incorporated which signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the program last November 24 in Panabo City.
Signatories of the MOA were Dr. Zenaida M. Rivera of the Rivera Medical Hospital, Kara M. Alikpala (president of ICanServe Foundation, Inc), Panabo City Mayor Jose L. Silvosa, Margie Moran-Floirendo (advocate of ICanServe Foundation), Dawn Zulueta-Lagdameo (wife of Rep. Anton F. Lagdameo, 2nd district, Davao del Norte), Janette Tanong (Panabo City councilor cum chairperson, committee on health) and Dr. Emelda Bendijo (Panabo City health officer).
The local government also signed a MOA with the Rivera Medical Hospital, allotting P100,000 from the city’s general fund to pay for the mammography of women who are suspected with breast cancer.
Silvosa said each mammography costs P700 per woman, therefore, with the funding, 70 women can be accommodated. The mammography for five women with highly suspicious lumps had already been sponsored under the program. “The city government will allot another P100,000 once the fund is consumed,” he added.
Nurses, barangay health workers (BHW) and midwives have been trained for breast cancer screening. Barangay councilors inform schedules for screening in every barangay. During screenings, volunteer doctors from the ICanServe provide lectures, with the aid of a video presentation hosted by Zulueta, on breast self-examination.
As Zulueta puts it in the video, “Ating dibdibin ang sariling salat sa suso (SSS),” encouraging every woman to make breast self-exam a lifetime commitment. She said cancer can be prevented when detected at an early stage, hence, the importance of SSS that a woman, 20 years old and above, should do every month.
Aside from SSS, a woman in her 30’s should also consult a doctor once a year, and in her 40’s should undergo mammography at least once a year while she continuously does SSS and consultation with a doctor.
Sometimes, women take their health for granted, Zulueta said, that’s why they need to be vigilant and support each other. “My dream, not only for Panabo, but for the entire country, is for women to have free access to medical health care, especially for mammography. It takes a lot of commitment and partnership,” she said.
Having a husband in the House of Representatives, Zulueta admits that while it’s up to him whether or not to cause the passage of such a House bill, achieving that goal takes a whole village—or country, for that matter. That’s why she shares this dream with the public.
Meanwhile, Margie Moran-Floirendo spoke of her full commitment and support for the program, not only in Panabo, but in Davao del Norte and Mindanao. “It’s important for women to be healthy for us to serve our loved ones, be productive and live a balanced life,” she said.
A staunch supporter of the welfare of the people in Mindanao, Moran plans for her next project a program developing entrepreneurs in their own community. She also plans another project that will provide education to children, preparing them not only to get a job after graduation, but also to become producers of jobs for their fellowmen.
