BAGUIO CITY – The I Can Serve Foundation, Inc., in partnership with the Baguio City Government, officially launched the Ating Dibdibin Program in the Baguio City Hall Multi-purpose Hall on May 28.
The program is a community-based initiative that advocates for comprehensive breast cancer control through awareness, prevention, early detection and patient support. This year’s campaign carries the theme, “Nasa Kamay Ninyo ang Tamang Breast Care” wherein doctors, breast cancer patients, survivors, advocates as well as members of the different government sectors were present to witness the event.
“We learned: if you want something done, you must go beyond your community’s stakeholders and join forces with others whose struggles intersect with yours,” said Kara Magsanoc-Alikpaka, founding president of the I Can Serve Foundation. The foundation has been working with both public and private partners nationwide to expand its breast cancer programs to those in need.
Maria Aileen Pascual, a member of the God’s Stage Care and Support Ministries in Baguio, expressed her gratitude for the event. “The Ating Dibdibin Program [being] launched here in Baguio is a big deal for cancer patients, like me, and their caregivers because this will give us more opportunity for cancer awareness, information and hope that cancer survivors will be able to well, mas mag-progress pa in their treatment, in their healing,” she said. “And of course, for those who are experiencing symptoms, they will have more avenues to be treated, to be diagnosed and to be encouraged in their journey. So this is an encouragement for us na we’re not alone in this journey. Marami kaming kasama and we thank the government for opening this up here in Baguio.”
Dr. Thelma Matbagan, a medical officer from the Baguio City Health Services Office (HSO), emphasized the importance of early screening and detection. “Malaking tulong po para sa community-based breast cancer control program para po sa, shempre, prevention na rin, early detection, papunta po sa treatment. Malaking tulong po na ka-partner po natin ang I Can Serve,” she stated. “Huwag pong matakot. Early detection pa rin po is the key before it’s too late,” Dr. Matbagan added.
Health officials and advocacy groups encourage women to perform monthly breast self-examinations a week after their period and to avail of free clinical breast exams at their respective district health centers at least once a year. By Aiyra Marzan