According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Filipino women die from cervical cancer at ten times the rate of Australian women. Our partnership with the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network (CECAP) and the Department of Health aims to change that.
The Province of Northern Samar was chosen as it is one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines. It is an isolated and largely rural province and one heavily impacted by typhoons. Our program to raise awareness and provide screening and treatment for women affected by cervical cancer commenced in the Northern Samar town of Catarman. ACCF has been encouraged by the committed, enthusiastic and welcoming manner in which the project has been received in Catarman.
The program began in October 2015 and has seen over 100 local health workers graduate from a week-long intensive training program. These upgraded skills have enabled them to deliver VIA Cervical Screening throughout most barangays (villages) in Catarman. The first stage of the project has proceeded successfully and we believe has provided a workable model that we hope can be replicated in other poor, rural and isolated regions of the Philippines.
Funds permitting, ACCF hopes it will be able to test the model further in other Northern Samar towns over the coming three years. After that we hope that the Department of Health will play a leading role in promoting the model in other poor and isolated regions of the Philippines.
2019 Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation (ACCF) Manila Summit:
