TACLOBAN CITY– Tingog party-list, led by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, and Rep. Jude Acidre, in partnership with Roche and Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC), launched a state-of- the-art HPV-DNA (human papillomaviruses- deoxyribonucleic acid) screening platform for cervical cancer on June 29.
The cobas 5800 is the first fully automated HPV-DNA screening platform in the Eastern Visayas region, marking a significant advancement in women’s healthcare as part of the 2030 Mission Leapfrog Philippines (MLP) initiative.
This groundbreaking move aims to improve early detection and prevention of cervical cancer by providing women with access to modern and effective diagnostic tools.
“Tingog party-list’s unwavering support for advancing public health through Leapfrog underscores our shared commitment with Roche and EVMC to enhance healthcare services and improve health outcomes for women in Eastern Visayas,” said Rep. Acidre.
“The launch of this screening platform is a big step in ensuring that women in our region receive the best possible care,” he added.
Present during the launching were EVMC chair for the Department of Pathology Dr. Cleocita Portula, EVMC Medical Center Chief Dr. Joseph Michael Jaro, Department of Health (DOH) Eastern Visayas Regional Director Dr. Exuperia Sabalberino, and OB-GYN Department chair Dr. Rufina Lynor Barrot-Gler.
The EVMC and Roche partnership supports the World Health Organization’s 2030 elimination targets for cervical cancer, which include vaccinating 90% of girls with the HPV vaccine by age 15, screening 70% of women with a high-performance test by ages 35 and 45, and ensuring 90% of women with precancerous lesions receive early treatment. Roche provided the cobas 5800 system and accessories for installation at the EVMC premises.
Cervical cancer, primarily caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and transmitted sexually, is the third most prevalent type of cancer among women, resulting in about 12 deaths each day in the Philippines.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
