Women urged to take charge of their health and prioritize preventive care at BECAUSE SHE CAN roundtable
FOR many women, health is often placed at the bottom of an already long list of priorities. Between work, family, responsibilities, and everyday pressures, preventive healthcare is frequently delayed, deprioritized, or only considered when something already feels wrong.
This reality takes center stage at BECAUSE SHE CAN: Preventive Health for a Thriving Future – A Women’s Health Roundtable,where women leaders, advocates, medical experts, personalities, open and empowering conversations around women’s health, cervical cancer prevention, and proactive healthcare.
Mounted by MSD in the Philippines through its Guard Against HPV initiative, continuation of the “Because She Can” campaign, reinforcing the message that taking charge of one’s health, self-respect, and self-prioritization.
The event, titled “Because She Can,” was held last June 9 at Common Ground, Rockwell in Makati City, and gathered women from various stages of life to foster open dialogue on women’s wellness, HPV, and cervical cancer prevention.
Joining the discussion are content creator and advocate Ayn Bernos, former Miss Universe Philippines MJ Lastimosa; Miss Philippines Earth 2025 Joy Barcoma; and OB-GYN and cervical cancer prevention advocate Ada Angela Cabrera, MD, to help simplify conversations around HPV, cervical cancer prevention, women’s preventive healthcare.
Cervical remains preventable, yet many women still delay action
Cervical cancer remains one the most common cancers affecting women, despite being preventable. Persistent high-risk HPV infection causes nearly all cervical cancer cases, yet awareness around HPV, vaccination, and regular screening remains limited for many women.
HPV is also highly common, with studies showing that 80% to 90% of sexually active individuals may acquire HPV infection at least once in their lifetime. While many HPV infections clear on their own, cervical and other HPV-related diseases when left persistent infection may lead unaddressed. HPV can affect both women and men.
Despite advances in cancer prevention and awareness, many women continue to delay preventive healthcare due stigma, misinformation, busy schedules, or concerns around accessibility and affordability. Conversations around women’s reproductive health also remain uncomfortable or unfamiliar for many, making it more difficult for women to seek information, ask questions, or consult healthcare professionals early.
The discussion reinforces that prevention can begin with small but meaningful actions, learning more about HPV, scheduling regular check-ups, seeking credible information, understanding available screening options, and becoming more proactive about one’s overall health and wellbeing.
Preventive healthcare starts with paying attention to one’s health
The roundtable also highlights the importance of normalizing conversations around women’s health, preventive care, and everyday wellness. For many women, healthcare is often treated reactively rather than proactively, with symptoms ignored or consultations postponed until concerns become more serious.
Preventive healthcare goes beyond medical appointments alone. It also involves becoming more intentional about lifestyle habits, overall wellness, and paying closer attention to one’s body and health. Prioritizing preventive care may include regular screening, vaccination, healthier lifestyle choices, stress management, adequate rest, and seeking medical guidance early instead of waiting for symptoms to worsen.
Ultimately, the discussion reinforces a simple but powerful reminder, taking care of one’s health is not selfish, it is something every woman deserves.
Women are encouraged to learn more about cervical cancer prevention, HPV, screening, and preventive healthcare through Guard Against HPV. To learn more, visit https://guardagainsthpv.ph/
