Free cervical cancer screening at VSMMC is extended to June 15
By: Juju S. Manubag
CEBU CITY, June 13 (PIA) --- The free cervical cancer screening at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) that marked the observance of Cervical Cancer Awareness last month should have ended last May 31 but is now extended until June 15.
This was bared by Dr. Juditha Tawatao, Department of Health (DOH)-7’s Non-Communicable Disease Section Chief to Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Cebu.
Tawatao said that she received a memorandum from their Central Office extending the free screening of cervical cancer until Wednesday.
“This is really good news for women who were not able to avail the free cervical cancer screening last month,” according to Tawatao.
The screening is done daily at the Cervical Cancer Prevention (CECAP) building of VSMMC from 8:00 to 5:00, from Monday to Friday.
Tawatao however said that “those who intend to avail of the free screening are advised not to have any sexual activity within 24 hrs and are not menstruating.”
Dr. Belinda Pañares, Chief of the OB Gyne Department of VSMMC have many times said that the disease is highly risky for women aged 30 to 45 years old, sexually active, bleeds after sexual intercourse, has prolong menstruation, foul discharges in the vagina and genital warts.
Women who gave birth from 13 to 19 years old, has five or more children, many sexual partners or partner has multiple sexual partners, history of sexually-transmitted disease (STD), smoker, usebirth control pills for five or more years and HIV are also predisposed to cervical cancer, Pañares added.
Cervical cancer is the second most common disease among women next to breast cancer. There are certain types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which when transmitted sexually cause cervical cancer, this is said.
“Cervical cancer per se is curable, though at an early stage it is asymptomatic or no signs or symptoms are observed that would tell that a woman or a person has one until at the late stages. It’s so depressing that 80 percent who comes for consultation are in the late stage of the disease,” Pañares revealed.
Pañares stressed that early detection is still the key to prevent the development of cervical cancer which is why they are recommending to women to avail of the free screening which is essential to the prevention of such disease.
Worldwide, cervical cancer kills every two minutes while 12 women die each day in the country due to the disease, this is learned.
Furthermore, the cost of external chemotherapy is P200,000 while internal radiation costs P100,000. (FCR/JSM/PIA 7-Cebu)
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Filipinos must help nation free from cycle of disaster, poverty
By: Minerva BC Newman
CEBU, June 13 (PIA) --- The Philippines is a sovereign nation and as the country celebrates its 113th Independence Day this year, the challenge for every Filipino is to help the nation free itself from the cycles of disaster and poverty that is largely caused by the its vulnerability to disaster risks and climate change.
Data showed that every time a typhoon catches the country unprepared, the losses are comparable as if it is in war.
Take for instance the 2009 twin typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng that displaced about two million families, killed almost a thousand lives and caused damage and losses amounting to US$ 4.4-billion.
A 2004 World Bank study revealed that the annual economic impact of disasters totals US$500M or about 4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Rural areas where poverty is most prevalent bear the brunt of these economic losses.
Based on a study by the Asian Development Bank on the economics of climate change, the country stands to lose 6 percent of its GDP annually by 2100 if it disregards climate change risks.
Senator Loren Legarda, chair on the senate committee on the environment and climate change said that if these losses happen every time a natural hazard visits the country, then national progress will always be hindered and stunted.
Legarda added that every citizen in every community should be part in the overall effort to make the country disaster-resilient.
“Every citizen must be engaged in developing community-based disaster preparedness plans, rehabilitating the environment, responding to early disaster warnings and in promoting sustainable livelihood,” Legarda challenges the Pilipinos.
Legarda reminded that as heroes of Philippine Revolution fought for the nation’s sovereignty, the Filipinos of this generation must now strive to overcome the challenges of being an independent nation.
“We have to realize that climate change is not just a scientific and environmental issue, but an all encompassing threat to our basic human rights—food, potable water, shelter, decent livelihood and life itself,” Legarda concluded.
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PHL cautious in invoking the mutual defense treaty in territorial dispute with China
By: Minerva BC Newman
CENTRAL VISAYAS, June 13 (PIA) --- The Philippines must be cautious in invoking the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and carefully study its provisions in the light of the current joint understanding between PHL and Beijing in the development of the Spratlys.
Malacanang has appealed to other countries that are also claiming territories at the South China Sea not to issue statements that may heighten tension between China and the Philippines .
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda in a statement said, the PHL government is committed to dialog with the other claimants and he called on all parties to refrain from inflammatory statements that would make it difficult to reach a mutually agreeable solution.
Senator Chiz Escudero former chairman of the senate National Defense committee on the other hand, cautioned the government against invoking the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) that Washington will help the country should the row over the Spratly Islands worsens.
The PHL is now at the center of a tense situation with Chinese officials over several confrontations with Filipinos in the potentially oil-rich Spratlys, which is also being claimed in part by Brunei , Malaysia , Vietnam and Taiwan .
Escudero explained that it is necessary to carefully review the MDT and read through its fine prints and get confirmations from the US government through its ambassador if indeed this situation is covered or what the limitations are from the point of view of the US government.
The senator, bats to pursue and exhaust all diplomatic remedies in the contested islands. He also urged the government to assign the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as the lead agency in discussing this in public.
"Any issue or conflict must be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic avenues as stipulated in the ASEAN Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Seas ," Escudero commented.
But Escudero is hopeful though that this issue can be settled without bloodshed. And if at all this should escalate, “we really have an ally in the US not only as stipulated in the MDT but as a gesture of long-standing friendship.”
In the same development, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said the military is careful not to provoke open hostilities in the Spratlys but is keeping an "active defense posture."
Oban admitted though in another statement that the country can do little if China resorts to force to lay its claim on the territory and remained "hopeful that the Americans will not stand aside should the conflict erupts and that they can invoke the MDT with the US."
US Ambassador Harry Thomas on his part appealed in Iloilo City for calm and sobriety and said that Washington takes no side on this issue as stated by US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Ambassador Thomas added that while calling for the full implementation of the 2002 Declaration of Conduct between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, “we appealed for calmness.” (PIA-7 & with reports from the Office of Senator Escudero)
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US reaffirm close ties as PHL celebrates
113th Independence Day on June 12
by Fayette C. Riñen
‘Cebu City to kick off event with a civic-military parade’
CEBU CITY, June 10 (PIA) – As the country commemorates its 113th year ofIndependence on Sunday, June 12, the United States once again reaffirmed its close bond with the Filipino people as its long-time partner and ally since World War II.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent a congratulatory message to the Philippine Government and the Filipino people in behalf of US President Barrack Obama and the American people highlighting the ties that bound both countries that went back during the World War II which both countries fought in the name of democracy.
“The United States and the Philippines are long-standing friends and partners. We stood together during World War II to defend liberal democratic values. Today, we are working together on many new fronts. Whether we are working to find ways to catalyze economic growth, helping victims of natural disasters, combating extremism, or calling for greater protection of human rights, our two countries share a vision of a better world,” Clinton’s message read in an e-mail message for immediate release sent by the US Embassy in the Philippines to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Cebu.
The message further read that the US Government totally supports the Philippine government in its commitment to fight corruption, promote judicial reform, reduce poverty, and create opportunities for its people. “
Clinton also said that both countries are cooperating in new ways on everything from the Partnership for Growth joint effort to boost prosperity in the Philippines, to the Open Government Partnership initiative to improve governance and transparency around the globe.
Through both countries’ Millennium Challenge Corporation compact, “we are working to reduce poverty through economic growth,” Clinton added.
In Cebu City, the celebration on Sunday will kick off with a civic-military parade with three assembly points to start at 6:00 a.m. after which the participants will proceed to the Cebu City Sports Center for the Flag Raising Ceremony and a short program that will follow.
Hundreds of participants are expected to attend the parade that include city officials and employees, Association of Barangay Councils, SK Federation, Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies -7, Knights of Columbus, Boys and Girls Scouts of the Philippines, Dep Ed, CHED-7, some schools and universities, Philippine National Poilice-7 and AFP-Central Command.
The end of the program will witness the releasing of doves with the sounds of “Mabuhay” led by the PNP-7. (PIA 7-Cebu)
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Amlan, Negros Oriental wins DOH Red Orchid Awards 2011
by Juju S. Manubag
CEBU CITY, June 10 (PIA) -- The Municipality of Amlan in Negros Oriental under the leadership of Mayor Bentham dela Cruz won the Department of Health (DOH) Red Orchid Award 2011 for the successful implementation of the smoke-free ordinance.
DOH-7 Non-Communicable Disease Section Chief Dr. Juditha Tawatao revealed this during the recent Kapihan sa PIA on the health department’s Anti-Smoking Program.
She said the award was given by the DOH to Amlan Mayor Bentham del Cruz in a grand awarding ceremony at Crown Plaza Hotel in Metro Manila last May 31, during the World Health Organization (WHO) – declared No Tobacco Day.
Tawatao said Amlan won the award for scoring 100 percent based on various factors as specified under the DOH criteria and WHO framework.
In a separate telephone interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Cebu, Tawatao bared that the Orchid Award was given by the DOH to government offices, government hospitals and local government units based on the strength of the comprehensive efforts to implement a 100 percent Tobacco-Free Environment following the World Health Organization (WHO) MPOWER initiatives.
Tawatao further said that MPOWER is an acronym that denotes the six proven tobacco control policies of WHO, namely: Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; Protect people from tobacco smoke; Offer to help quit tobacco use; Warn people about the ill-effects of smoking; Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and Raise taxes on tobacco.
Tawatao added that the winners were categorized in color codes where the Red Orchid Awardees got the highest scores and were declared winners while the Pink Orchid and White Orchid Awards were the first and second runners-up, respectively.
Last year, the municipality of Amlan was a Pink Orchid awardee.
As the declared winner of the Red Orchid Award, Amlan received a trophy, a certificate, and P100,000 worth of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) patches/ medicines to aid smokers to quit to be used in their smoking cessation clinic, Tawatao said.
Tawatao also disclosed that Mayor dela Cruz had asked DOH-7 for a planning workshop in July this year in order to sustain the project. (FCR/JSM/PIA 7-Cebu)