Cancer Warriors Foundation, Inc. (CWFI), in partnership with Expertise France and UNITAID, together with the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WV CHD), the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (PHO), and Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC), successfully conducted a five-day Clinical Skills Training (CST) focused on Advancing Cervical Cancer Elimination in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) and Unserved and Underserved Areas (UUA). The activity formed part of the Scale Up Cervical Cancer Elimination through Secondary Strategies – For Asia Pacific (SUCCESS-FAP) Project.
The training aimed to strengthen the competencies of frontline healthcare workers in cervical cancer prevention and early detection, with emphasis on secondary prevention strategies. Participants included doctors, nurses, and midwives from the municipalities of Carles, Estancia, and Lemery, as well as representatives from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office.
Held at Solina Beach and Nature Resort in Carles, Iloilo, the five-day CST featured a comprehensive program that combined didactic lectures, return demonstrations, and hands-on clinical practicum. This blended learning approach ensured that participants gained updated theoretical knowledge while developing the practical skills necessary for effective service delivery in their respective communities.
The training was led by a distinguished team of trainers from Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC), namely Dr. Arnold P. Liwag, Dr. Aura Marie G. Tirasol, Dr. Vanessa Dolendo, and Dr. Niñylyn C. Calicaran. They were joined by experts from Manila, Dr. Larraine E. Malabonga and Dr. Jessabeth B. Mercado, together with Dr. Cecilia Ladines Llave, Technical Adviser for the SUCCESS-FAP Project. Collectively, the trainers shared their expertise and guided participants throughout the training.
Day 1 focused on setting the foundation of the training. Participants were formally welcomed through opening ceremonies, followed by an overview of the Clinical Skills Training goals, methodologies, and daily agenda. Sessions covered the pathophysiology of cervical cancer, cervical and breast health essentials, and the benchmarking of participants’ baseline knowledge through pre-tests and image recognition activities.
The first day also highlighted the critical importance of information dissemination and the role of HPV DNA testing in early detection and prevention. Emphasis was placed on the guiding principle that no one should die from cervical cancer, reinforcing the urgency of strengthening screening and secondary prevention strategies. Discussions underscored the importance of adhering to standard procedures and established protocols to ensure quality, safety, and consistency in service delivery. Moreover, the significance of the CST program was emphasized, positioning participants as models for the future expansion of the initiative, not only in the Philippines but across the Asia-Pacific region, in support of broader cervical cancer elimination efforts.
Day 2 deepened participants’ clinical knowledge and skills through a series of didactic lectures and interactive learning activities. Topics included cervical image recognition and differentiation, screening methods such as VIA, Pap smear, and HPV DNA testing, infection prevention and control, as well as counseling and health education. Demonstrations on thermal ablation using IRIS were conducted, complemented by return demonstrations to ensure competency and proper technique, to help enhanced their skills.
Day 3 highlighted hands-on learning through clinical practicum sessions. Participants were deployed to Estancia Rural Health Unit (RHU), where they applied their skills in real clinical settings under supervision. Actual services provided during the practicum included 27 HPV tests, 4 Pap smears, and 1 VIA screening, reinforcing practical experience in cervical screening and patient management. The day concluded with a synthesis of learnings and group reflections.
Day 4 continued with clinical practicum activities at Carles Primary Care Facility (PCF). Actual services provided during the second day of practicum included 24 HPV tests, 15 Pap smears, and 2 VIA screenings. This was followed by sessions on monitoring and evaluation, sustainability planning, and strategies to ensure continuous improvement in service delivery. Mid-course assessments and post-tests were conducted to measure knowledge gains and skills development.
Day 5 culminated in the presentation of outputs, action planning, and facility-level presentations. Participants shared their commitments to implement the strategies learned within their respective health facilities. The training concluded with a feedback session, graduation ceremony where each participant where given a certificate of participation and closing remarks, marking the successful completion of the Clinical Skills Training.
Through this intensive capacity-building activity, Cancer Warriors Foundation, Inc. and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to empowering frontline healthcare workers, improving access to quality cervical cancer screening, diagnosis, and early treatment services, and accelerating efforts toward the elimination of cervical cancer in the Philippines, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas and unserved and underserved areas.
