Visualization in acetic acid: DOH brings free, convenient cervical cancer screening method to communities
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The Department of Health brings the visual inspection with acetic acid or VIA method closer to the communities, providing opportunities to women aged 30-49 years old and those who have not reached menopause to avail of this convenient and free-of-charge cervical cancer screening method.
Doctor Karen Mae C. Durac, medical officer IV of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Caraga, encouraged the women to visit their rural health units (RHUs) and health centers to undergo regular screening of their cervix through VIA, during the Kapihan sa PIA at SM City Butuan on September 22.
“Cervical cancer ranks second in cancer diseases among women. This prompted the government to issue DOH Department Memorandum No. 2024-0143 which mandated the nationwide implementation of cervical cancer screening for early detection and prevention,” Doctor Durac said. “Aside from pap smear, women have the option to undergo VIA which is an effective and efficient method for cervical cancer screening.”
She emphasized that accessible screening services such as VIA are available in the RHUs across the region and in the entire country.” We encourage women to proactively participate in the cervical cancer screening services made available in the communities because early detection is key to saving lives and improving treatment outcome.”
VIA is a simple and single-step way of identifying abnormalities on a woman’s cervix that has the potential to become a cervical cancer. The only tools needed are white vinegar, a cotton ball, a flashlight and the naked eye.
Also, unlike pap smear, VIA test results are made available immediately and patients no longer have to stay and wait in the RHU or make a return visit to get the result.
In the presence of obstetrician-gynecologist or medical practitioner, VIA is performed with the naked eye or cervicoscopy, a direct visual inspection [DVI], or with low magnification also called aided VI or VIAM, through vaginal speculum examination during which the doctor applies diluted 3-5 percent acetic acid or vinegar to the cervix.
With VIA, abnormal tissues in the cervix will temporarily appear white when exposed to vinegar, serving as basis for initial findings and recommendations for treatment, confirmatory diagnosis or adjunctive test.
Durac is hopeful that through DOH-CHD Caraga’s massive information drive in the communities more women in the region will proactively go to their nearest RHU and have their cervix examined using the VIA method.
Meanwhile, the Kapihan sa PIA is a platform of the Philippine Information Agency to disseminate the programs of the government to grassroots communities through partnerships with the media practitioners who are the onsite audience of the activity. Its engagement becomes wider as the activity is also aired live in the official Facebook pages of PIA, including the production of information, education and communication (IEC) output such as reels, information graphics, among others.
Through the Kapihan sa PIA, DOH-CHD Caraga has strengthened its advocacy and awareness campaign on the significance of cervical cancer early detection and prevention through the VIA method, bringing the urgent message louder and clearer to the communities. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands)