Beauty queens, health advocates join forces to urge women to take charge of their health and prioritize preventive care 

Beauty queens, health advocates join forces to urge women to take charge of their health and prioritize preventive care | Leony Garcia | For many women, health is often placed at the bottom of an already long list of priorities. Between work, family, responsibilities, and everyday pressures, healthcare is frequently delayed, deprioritized, or only considered when something already feels wrong.

Good thing, leading pharmaceutical company, MSD, through its Guard Against HPV initiative, mounted the “Because She Can”: Preventive roundtable campaign, to reinforce the message that taking charge of one’s health means empowerment, self-respect, and self-prioritization.

Lending their celebrity and star power, MJ Lastimosa and Joy Barcoma  joined  the discussion along with content creator and advocate Ayn Bernos, and OB-GYN and cervical cancer prevention advocate Ada Angela Cabrera, MD, to help simplify conversations around HPV, cervical cancer prevention, women’s preventive healthcare.

As beauty queens who represented the Philippines in the global stage – Lastimosa for Miss Universe and Barcoma for Miss Earth – – the two agreed that their journey has helped them a lot in preventive health and self-prioritization given their respective busy schedules. And today, as the voice of Filipina women, they agreed to use their platforms to encourage more women for self-love and respect. 

“Because women, especially our mommies and other mother figures, wouldn’t be able to take care of others if they do not take care of themselves and be healthy,” Barcoma said. 

HPV and cervical cancer

Among the many health concerns discussed were HPV and cervical cancer. HPV or Human Papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) globally, among sexually active individuals both men and women. 

HPV is also highly common, with studies showing that 80% to 90% of sexually active individuals may acquire HPV infection at least once in their lifetime. While many HPV infections clear on their own, cervical and other HPV-related diseases when left persistent infection may lead unaddressed. 

HPV encompasses a group of over 200 related viruses. While many types are harmless and asymptomatic, some high-risk strains can cause cervical cancer, while others lead to non-cancerous growths like warts. As per the December 2022 WHO Position on HPV vaccines, the World Health Organization recommends the following vaccination schedule:A one or two-dose schedule for girls aged 9-1 4;A one or two-dose schedule for girls and women aged 15-20; and Two doses with a 6-month interval for women older than 21. 

Cervical cancer remains one the most common cancers affecting women, despite being preventable. Persistent high-risk HPV infection causes nearly all cervical cancer cases, yet awareness around HPV, vaccination, and regular screening remains limited for many women.

Stigma and misinformation

Despite advances in cancer prevention and awareness, many women continue to delay preventive healthcare due to stigma, misinformation, busy schedules, or concerns around accessibility and affordability. 

Dr. Cabrera, who is YourOBTita herself  on Tiktok, said that conversations around women’s reproductive health also remain uncomfortable or unfamiliar for many. This makes it more difficult for women to seek information, ask questions, or consult healthcare professionals early.

With this, Dr. Cabrera highlights the importance of normalizing conversations around women’s health, preventive care, and everyday wellness by finding the right health practitioners and women support groups. 

“Yes going to the OB should be a normal thing like going to the salon or spa. We should be able to tell our patners or friends, ‘Hey, I’m going for a papsmear, come with me!,’” Barcoma quipped. 

Preventive healthcare starts with paying attention to one’s health

Preventive healthcare goes beyond medical appointments alone according to Dr. Cabrera. It also involves becoming more intentional about lifestyle habits, overall wellness, and paying closer attention to one’s body and health. Prioritizing preventive care may include regular screening, vaccination, healthier lifestyle choices, stress management, adequate rest, and seeking medical guidance early instead of waiting for symptoms to worsen.

Creating more open, relatable, and judgment-free conversations around women’s health can help encourage more women to become proactive instead of fearful when it comes to healthcare. Community support, safe spaces, and accessible information also play an important role in helping women feel more empowered to prioritize themselves and make informed health decisions earlier.

Women are encouraged to learn more about cervical cancer prevention, HPV, screening, and preventive healthcare through Guard Against HPV. To learn more, visit https://guardagainsthpv.ph/. 

Women are also encouraged to visit the barangay or community health center or enrol themselves to Philhealth Yakap centers nearest them for consultation. “At Philihealth Yakap they should be able to explore the laboratory tests and other services which the government agency is giving for free,” Cabrera said. 

The celebrity guests all agreed that prevention can begin with small but meaningful actions, learning more about HPV, scheduling regular check-ups, seeking credible information, understanding available screening options, and becoming more proactive about one’s overall health and wellbeing. 

On the sidelight, we asked Lastimosa her thoughts about the event, she said that spreading the word about women’s health would definitely become part of her advocacy. 

“Senior na rin ako (referring to her older age than Barcoma) at ngayon ko rin lang nalalaman ang mga ganitong health concerns ng kababaihan,” she said laughing.