BY JOY OFASIA
To commemorate International Women’s Day 2025, the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association offered free cervical cancer screenings at their Honiara office on March 10th and 11th.
Jordy Joel Toiraena, Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA) communications officer, spoke to SOLOMON WOMEN about the initiative and the impact of the event.
“We were thrilled with the outcome, as more than 100 women participated, which is far more than our usual 50 to 60 clients per day,” Toiraena said. “This shows that the need for cervical cancer screening is significant, and it’s something we must continue to prioritize for women in our country.”
The event provided free screening and general sexual and reproductive health awareness, with SIPPA urging all women to take advantage of the services.
“Cervical cancer screening is so important, and we encourage all women to come forward and access this service,” Toiraena added.
SIPPA’s outreach extended beyond the office as they also participated in the three-day main International Women’s Day event at the National Museum, where they set up a tent to raise awareness of their services. Toiraena expressed appreciation for the strong turnout, noting the value of providing these essential health services to the community.
The free screenings will continue, with only a $10 membership fee required for full access to SIPPA’s services.
“It’s great to see the women of Honiara recognizing the importance of this service,” Toiraena said. “We’re hopeful that more women will come forward and make use of what we offer.”
