Ando Benavente, program outreach worker for the Breast and Cervical Screening Program of the Department of Public Health, told Variety that the number of participants who turned up for the “Stamp Out Breast Cancer Walk” from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday was a good one.
“Breast cancer is a serious problem in the CNMI, and a lot of women are either scared to go for tests or they don’t have the right information about breast cancer, about what’s going on and what they can do to prevent it. That is where we come in,” Benavente said.
As part of the Department of Public Health’s outreach programs, Benavente said they are bringing the mobile clinic to the villages to offer free basic services to residents who cannot come to the Commonwealth Health Center.
Participants of the “Stamp Out Breast Cancer Walk” on Monday included staffers from the Hard Rock Café Saipan, members of the Commonwealth Cancer Association, breast cancer survivors and other volunteers.
Benavente said they will be conducting a health screening for Kagman residents on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the parking lot of Lao Lao Bay Golf Resort.
“We are inviting all the women from Kagman to come and avail of the free services we will be offering which include blood pressure and blood sugar testing, and clinical breast examination,” Benavente said.
Two health care providers will be at the screening and can accommodate from 40 to 50 clients from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Women who don’t have transportation may call 236-8727 on Friday and they will be picked up and brought to the screening area on Saturday.
