The OKtober forum on October 9 in Muntinlupa City was marked by the signing of a new Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between ICANSERVE Foundation founding president Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala and Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon.
The MoA covers the training of new barangay health workers (BHWs) in Muntinlupa City under Ating Dibdibin, a comprehensive community-based breast cancer control program that raises awareness, promotes early detection, trains the city’s Health Office, medical team and BHWs in early detection techniques, and establishes patient navigation and a breast cancer trust fund solely for the treatment of those diagnosed under the program. Muntinlupa became an Ating Dibdibin partner of ICANSERVE in 2014.
At the forum, 197 BHWs were trained on clinical breast examination by Dr. Cecille Montales, member of the ICANSERVE board and chair of the foundation’s Patient Services Committee. They were also oriented on patient navigation by Menchie Auste-Sarmiento, chief executive officer of Cancer Warriors Foundation, Inc. and senior vice president of Cancer Coalition Philippines.
Foreground, from 2nd from left to right: GAD acting head Reggie Salonga, City Health officer Dr. Juancho Bunyi, Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon, GAD-GFPS chairperson Trina Biazon, ICANSERVE founding president Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, ICANSERVE board member Cecille Montales, Cancer Warriors Foundation CEO Menchie Auste-Sarmiento, ICANSERVE OKtober project manager Teocel Apolona and ICANSERVE administrative officer Myrna Guibao (who passed away suddenly on Oct. 14).
MoA signing (from left): Muntinlupa City Health Officer Dr. Juancho Bunyi, ICANSERVE founding president Kara Alikpala, Mayor Ruffy Biazon, ICANSERVE administrative officer Myrna Guibao, and GAD acting head Reggie Salonga