Recognizing the key role of media in health literacy promotion, Novartis Healthcare Philippines, Philippine Press Institute (PPI), and ICanServe Foundation have signed a memorandum of agreement to organize a workshop that aims to help local journalists gain a deeper understanding of breast cancer. The MOA is supported by the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) PH… From A1
and the Alliance and Partnerships for Patient Innovations & Solutions (APPIS). “We are privileged to partner with the Philippine Press Institute andICanServe Foundation in organizing this workshop. The support of the media is particularly important in increasing awareness on breast cancer, the most common type of cancer in Filipino women.
Through their learnings from this workshop, our local journalists can help improve health literacy among the general public and facilitate early diagnosis and prompt treatment of breast cancer.
There is hope for women diagnosed with breast cancer. They need to know that enhanced quality of life and overall survival are possible,” said Joel Chong, President of Novartis Healthcare Philippines. “Media must go beyond reporting just the statistics and give a human face to their stories.
By keeping people and communities informed, this will also empower breast cancer patients and survivors,” said PPI chairman Rolando Estabillo.
“Some journalists think that reporting on cancer can be boring anddepressing. Twenty-six years ago, I was one of them, but I have changed my mind since. Any delay in the delivery of health services to cancer patients can mean progression of disease or death.
We can’t be timid as journalists,” said Ms. Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, Founding President of ICanServe Foundation. Entitled “Health Reporting on Breast Cancer in the Philippines,” the two half-day virtual workshop scheduled on June 21-22, 2023 will be attended by journalists who are PPI members.
The workshop aims to deepen local journalists’ understanding about the disease, the burden of breast cancer, and related terminologies and policies; inform them about new medicines available to breast cancer patients and their families; and link them with government and medical experts so they can write accurate and comprehensive stories about breast cancer.
“Fifty-three percent of breast cancer cases in the country are diagnosed in their advanced stages, while only 2 to 3 percent of cases are diagnosed in stage 1.
With the help of the media, we seek to increase public awareness on breast cancer and consequently promote early detection and prompt treatment.
Through this initiative, we aim to help improve breast cancer survivorship and enhance the patient journey,” said Christine Fajardo, Communications & Engagement Head of Novartis Healthcare Philippines & Asia Aspiring Innovative Medicines.
“Increased awareness and health literacy is essential in the fight against noncommunicable diseases such as breast cancer.
This is where media can make a difference by empowering individuals with knowledge to enable them to make healthier choices and adopt healthy behaviors,” added Teodoro Padilla, Executive Director of PHAP.
