Women in Quezon City can now access free cervical cancer screening at various health centers and lying-in clinics to promote early detection and reduce the disease’s impact.

Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday highlighted the importance of early detection, noting that while cervical cancer is preventable and treatable, it remains one of the most common cancers among Filipino women.

“This initiative highlights our commitment to women’s health by providing accessible screening services and fostering a healthier community,” Belmonte said in a press release.

According to the 2022 Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) report, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally and the third in the Philippines, with 8,549 new cases and 4,380 deaths recorded in the country that year.

In collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) and the non-profit organization Jhpiego Philippines, the city government has launched a free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing program starting in February.

The service will be available at select SouthStar Drug outlets and through the Women Workers for Health Empowerment (WHEN).

Women can collect samples at home or onsite with pharmacist assistance.

Samples will be sent to a lab by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

Those who test positive will receive treatment at designated health centers, with referrals for advanced care if necessary.

The city government has allocated PHP28 million to screen 20,000 women aged 30 to 49 in 2025.

In 2024, over 16,000 women were screened for cervical cancer and 67,000 for breast cancer in the city.

For more information, residents can contact the QC Health Department at [email protected] or call 8988-4242 local 1607. (PNA)