Medical screening program para sa maagang detection ng kanser, tinataguyod ni Leyte Rep. Romualdez

TINATAGUYOD ni Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez ang isang medical screening program para sa maagang detection ng kanser sa isang pasyente.
Sa inihaing House Bill (HB) No. 7942, kasama si Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, bibigyan kapangyarihan ang Department of Health (DOH) na maglungsad ng programa upang pagtibayin ang cancer risk screening sa tulong ng local government units, barangay health workers at ilan kawani sa sektor ng kalusugan.
Ayon sa Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), ang kanser ay ikatlong sanhi ng pagkamatay sa karamdaman ng mga Pilipino, sinabi ni Romualdez.
“A major factor contributing to this alarming reality is the late diagnosis of cancer cases, which not only reduces survival rates but also imposes severe financial hardship on affected families. Studies reveal that treatment of late-stage cancer can consume more than 30 percent of a household’s income, often pushing families into financial catastrophe,” ani Romualdez.
Aniya, sa mas mataas ang bilang ng may sakit na kanser sa mga mauunlad na bansa pero maaga nila itong naagapan dahil sa magandang early detection and prevention programs.
“Evidence shows that early detection significantly improves survival rates while reducing overall treatment costs, making it both a life-saving and cost-effective public health strategy,” pahayag ni Romualdez.
Sa panig naman ni Acidre, ang HB 7942 ay pagbibigay daan sa pagtatatag ng taunang community-based cancer early detection programs sa pamamagitan ng risk profiling, barangay-level screening, at awareness campaigns sa mga munisipalidad.
Idinagdag ni Acidre na bibigyan ng karagdagang suporta at kakayahan ang mga barangay health workers (BHWs) sa pamamagitan ng capacity development at training, upang makatulong sa mga cancer prevention programs, screening promotion, health navigation, at suporta sa mga pasyente.
“By integrating grassroots health workers into systematic cancer risk detection and awareness efforts, the State fulfills its mandate under the Constitution to protect and promote the right to health, while complementing the objectives of Republic Act No. 11215, or the National Integrated Cancer Control Act,” sinabi ni Acidre.
Sa ilalim ng Cancer Risk Screening and Awareness Act, ang mga inisyal na sa saklaw ng early detention programs ay breast, cervical, colorectal (colon), at prostate cancers. (Vina de Guzman)