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Cervical cancer awareness walks kick off
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Posted on Jan 12 2012
By Clarissa David
Reporter
Reporter
Over 20 individuals took part in the Cervical Cancer Awareness Walk sponsored by the Grace Christian Academy volleyball team yesterday.
Participants walked from Oleai Pavilion to the old Japanese tank across from Quartermaster Road and back and received either a free shirt or water bottles. Educational flyers and brochures about cervical cancer were also given out to participants at the pavilion.
Yesterday’s walk was the first of the several awareness walks scheduled this month as part of the celebration of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
“Let’s fight cervical cancer together,” said Kimberly Sablan, Cervical Cancer Awareness Month Committee chair.
Sablan emphasized that early detection through screening is key to preventing cervical cancer and all other types of cancer. She encouraged women in the community to visit their physicians and get a Pap test.
Sablan said they have the breast and cervical screening programs for women age 21 years or older. Screenings are free for those who meet income guidelines and requirements.
For younger females, Sablan said they promote the human papillomavirus or HPV vaccine to girls as young as 9 years old.
“Getting the HPV vaccine at an early age helps prevent cancer, that’s why we promote it to high school students,” she told Saipan Tribune.
The HPV outreach program among female high school students in the CNMI is scheduled to begin within the month.
Besides screening tests, Sablan said that having a healthy lifestyle by eating nutritious food, being physically active through exercise, and not smoking or quitting smoking also help prevent cancer.
Eleventh-grader Aira Batallones, co-captain of the GCA volleyball team, said she attended the walk with her teammates to become more aware about cervical cancer.
Batallones, 16, said that she plans to avail of the HPV vaccine once it becomes available. She urged other high school students to get the vaccine and become physically active to remain healthy. “You have to work out to build your muscles and stamina,” she added.
Another awareness walk, scheduled on Jan. 18, will be sponsored by 2011 Liberation Queen Joni C. Castro.
