The Baguio City Health Services Office recently hosted an essential initiative to improve community health. In collaboration with CerviQ, Dynamic People’s Network (DPN), Rotary Club of Baguio Highlands, Rotary Club of Makati F. Zobel, and the Cancer Warriors Foundation, Inc., the “Silip Cervix Sagip Buhay: Capacity Building” program was officially launched.
The program focused on enhancing the knowledge of cervical cancer, its causes, and prevention methods including HPV vaccination guidelines, and various screening approaches. A key element introduced was the use of portable digital colposcopes, supported by artificial intelligence, to streamline the screening process. The advantages of using a colposcope over traditional methods include magnification for more accurate evaluations, the ability to document through cervical imaging, remote assessments by physicians, and faster communication of results to patients.
After the didactic sessions, participants engaged in hands-on training, enabling them to apply the knowledge gained in real-world scenarios. The training emphasized the use of a portable digital colposcope, supported by artificial intelligence, which aids in more precise visual inspections and offers several benefits over traditional screening methods. This technology provides magnification for better evaluations, enables cervical imaging for documentation, allows remote assessments by physicians, and facilitates faster communication of results to patients.
To further enhance their skills and practical experience, participants were invited to attend the upcoming Pasadang Pambarangay at the Mines View Health Center and the Gibraltar Health Center. This event will allow them to put their training into practice and provide essential cervical screening services to more women in the community.
This initiative aimed to empower health professionals in Baguio by equipping them with crucial skills to improve cervical cancer screening. During the afternoon training session at the Baguio City Health Services Office, healthcare workers gathered to enhance their expertise and strengthen their impact on the community’s well-being.
The collaboration between these organizations reflects a shared commitment to improving cervical cancer screening and prevention in Baguio. By providing advanced education and training, the program seeks to close healthcare service gaps, particularly in the early detection of cervical cancer. Early detection is critical, as cervical cancer is highly treatable when identified in its initial stages.
Through this capacity-building effort, Baguio’s health professionals are now better equipped to offer improved cervical screening services, which will enhance healthcare quality in the region, reduce cervical cancer rates, and save lives.
Led by the efforts of Doc. Bogs Rivera from CerviQ, this program demonstrates the power of investing in local healthcare training. The “Silip Cervix Sagip Buhay” initiative is paving the way for a healthier future for the people of Baguio.
(Article lifted from Anthony Cama, Jr.)
