CITY OF SANTO TOMAS – The City of Santo Tomas in collaboration with Batangas Medical Center and in partnership with the Department of Health – Center for Health Development CALABARZON, successfully conducted the “Check It, Beat It” Cancer Awareness and Screening Program—a meaningful and decisive step in empowering women to take charge of their health.
At the heart of this initiative lies a powerful truth:
Cancer prevention begins with awareness. Survival begins with early detection.
A Community-Driven Approach to Prevention
The program was designed not only to provide screening services, but also to cultivate understanding. Women from various barangays gathered to learn, to be screened, and to become proactive advocates of their own health.
The activity provided:
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Health education sessions on cancer prevention
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Clinical Breast Examination (CBE)
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Standard Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) for cervical cancer screening
By bringing these services directly into the community, the city reduced common barriers such as distance, cost, and fear—ensuring that preventive care is accessible, practical, and immediate.
Elevating Cervical Cancer Screening Through Innovation
A major highlight of the event was the participation of End Cervical Cancer Philippines Organization Inc., invited to demonstrate the use of the speculoscope in cervical cancer screening.
While standard VIA remains a proven and cost-effective method, the addition of the speculoscope significantly enhances screening quality by:
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Providing magnified visualization of the cervix
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Allowing clearer identification of suspicious lesions
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Enabling image documentation for monitoring and follow-up
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Supporting remote tele-evaluation and mentoring
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Improving overall screening confidence and diagnostic accuracy
This innovation strengthens frontline healthcare delivery by combining traditional public health strategies with digital support—helping providers make faster, clearer, and more reliable assessments.
Speculoscope Assisted VIA Integrated Since March 2025:
Since March 2025, speculoscope-assisted VIA has been formally integrated into the City of Santo Tomas’ cervical cancer screening program under the banner:
Aksyon Bilis: Girl Power Laban sa Kanser
Isang programang pangkalusugan na ang hangad ay magbigay ng pag-asa, lakas, at inspirasyon sa ating mga kababaihan na nakikipaglaban sa kanser.
More than a health campaign, Aksyon Bilis is a movement—bringing services closer to women and ensuring that no Filipina is left behind.
Barangay-to-Barangay: Prevention at the Grassroots
The cervical cancer screening initiative follows a Barangay-to-Barangay model, ensuring community-level reach and engagement. This strategy works hand-in-hand with the city’s HPV vaccination program, including catch-up vaccination for eligible age groups.
By integrating:
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HPV vaccination (primary prevention)
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Cervical cancer screening (secondary prevention)
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Community education and mobilization
The City of Santo Tomas is building a comprehensive, sustainable strategy aligned with global cervical cancer elimination targets.
Milestones and Momentum
To date, more than 400 women have been screened under the enhanced cervical cancer program.
The city now sets an ambitious but achievable goal:
Screen over 2,400 women by the end of the year.
These numbers represent more than statistics—they represent mothers, daughters, sisters, and leaders whose lives may be protected through timely intervention.
Moving Decisively Toward Elimination
Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be eliminated through sustained vaccination and screening. The collaboration between local government, regional health authorities, hospitals, and advocacy partners demonstrates what is possible when leadership meets community action.
Girl Power Laban sa Kanser is more than a slogan.
It is a commitment:
To protect women.
To strengthen families.
To empower communities.
To build a future where cervical cancer no longer threatens the lives of Filipinas.
The City of Santo Tomas continues to stand as a growing model of how local action can drive national impact—one woman, one barangay, one screening at a time.
