Recently Las Piñas City Representative Camille Villar emphasized government-backed early detection programs and ways on helping women deal with breast cancer, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar on Tuesday reiterated her call for the government to intensify its early detection programs, and promote easier access to preventive screening against breast cancer to save the lives of Filipino women.
“With the alarming growth of breast cancer cases in the Philippines, there is a need to strengthen dedicated programs against breast cancer, and to allocate adequate budgetary support for programs involving early detection in hospitals and at the local level,” Villar said in a statement.
Citing data from the World Health Organization, she noted that in 2020, there were 86,484 total cancer cases in the Philippines, of which 27,163 breast cancer cases.
She pointed out that in the same year, breast cancer claimed the lives of 9,926 Filipino women, making it the third most fatal type of cancer afflicting Filipinos, just behind lung and liver cancer.
The Philippines had the highest rate of breast cancer in Asia and the ninth highest in the world in 2019, with the disease often diagnosed already in advanced stages.
She said an estimated 70 percent of breast cancer cases also affect indigent women, making it more difficult for them to fight off the dreaded disease.
“There is a seeming absence of comprehensive screening programs especially in far-flung areas, thereby depriving women to seek immediate early screening or medical help,” Villar said.
In view of this, Villar has filed House Resolution No. 1023 urging the appropriate House Committees to look into the increasing number of breast cancer cases in the country with the intent of promoting early detection programs and increasing breast cancer awareness.
She also called on her colleagues to pass a separate measure seeking to establish a special assistance fund dedicated for cancer patients, particularly the indigents and underprivileged Filipinos who need all the support from the government.
In her House Bill No. 5686, or the Cancer Medicine and Treatment Fund for Filipinos, Villar seeks the institutionalization of a PHP10-billion fund to support needy Filipino families in the battle against cancer.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Las Piñas City resident, what is your reaction to this new development? Are you convinced that Representative Villar’s proposals for government-backed measures on dealing with breast cancer and early detection programs are justified? Are you convinced that breast cancer is a very serious issue in the country right now?
You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.
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