Monday, May 10, 2010

Help Fight HPV

PGH doctors on a mission against HPV
by Eric Michael Santos

Started in December 2008, a group of obstetrician-gynecologists-infectious disease specialists at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) is implementing an advocacy program to make human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination accessible to more Filipinos. The program headed by Dr. Ricardo Manalastas, Jr., chief, UP-PGH Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Section of Infectious Diseases (OB-IDS), initially focused their program on socio-civic organizations, private schools, and corporations.
“We explain to members of these groups the benefits and cost of HPV prevention through vaccination and that through our advocacy program, we no longer charge a certain professional fee for the vaccination.”
Increasing incidence rate of cervical cancer and other HPV diseases
“From 1980 to 1995, the incidence rate of cervical cancer in the country has remained a relatively high 22 per 100,000 women. Almost 7 out of 10 of cases are diagnosed in the advanced stage when the chance of dying from the disease is high. About 6 out of 10 Filipino women with cervical cancer will die within 5 years,” Dr. Manalastas said.

more at http://www.hpv.com.ph/media.html

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