The Gift of Awareness: Rotary Brings Lifesaving Mammography to Tagum City

In Tagum City, Philippines, a quiet revolution in women’s health is underway one that began with a question familiar to every Rotarian: What does the community truly need?

Thanks to a $89,000 Global Grant from The Rotary Foundation, three Rotary clubs in the Philippines, supported by four partner clubs in South Korea, have answered that question with a powerful response: free mammography services for the women of Tagum.

This project aptly named “Gift of Awareness: Mammography for Early Detection” is more than the donation of a machine. It’s an investment in time, survival, and dignity for women who, until now, lacked access to critical breast cancer screening.

The Power of Partnership

Launched under Global Grant GG2574662, the initiative was spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Tagum North (District 3860) with co-host clubs RC Tagum and RC Tagum Golden LACES, and the international support of RC Pohang-Shin, RC Gyeongju East, RC Sangju-Central, and RC Jeomchon Joongang from District 3630 in Korea.

Rotarians from both countries collaborated across time zones and cultures to bring the project to life. It was approved by The Rotary Foundation in record time and officially launched on August 14, 2025, during a turnover ceremony in Tagum attended by city officials, health workers, and Rotary leaders.

“This initiative is more than just a machine it’s about saving lives through early detection,” said PAG Arnold M. Nicolas, Project Chair from District 3860. “Our goal is to empower women through awareness and access.”

Meeting a Critical Health Gap

Though Tagum is a rapidly growing city of nearly 300,000, it lacked a public mammography facility prior to the project. Women often had to travel long distances and pay out of pocket for screenings. Many simply went without. This barrier to early detection placed women at greater risk of late-stage cancer diagnosis, a reality well known to Engr. Melina Avila, a breast cancer survivor and founding president of the Pink Tagum Cancer Survivors Club.

“This isn’t just about equipment,” she said during the turnover. “It’s about giving women the chance to fight and the hope to survive. Every image captured could mean a life saved.”

A Model of Rotary Service

The project reflects Rotary’s Areas of Focus, particularly Disease Prevention and Treatment. It also exemplifies the best of Rotary service: needs-based planning, sustainable design, and international cooperation.

From its inception in a café meeting in December 2024 to grant approval by April 2025, the initiative unfolded rapidly. It involved technical consultations with health professionals, site inspections, and a multi-club grant application that united diverse stakeholders around a single, vital goal.

Key Rotary leaders who championed the project include IPDG Caroline L. Andrade (D3860), IPDG Kyung Hee Kim (D3630), Stephen Chian (Rotary Foundation Chair, D3860), and Jong Youl Lee (Rotary Foundation Chair, D3630).

The mammography machine is now housed at La Filipina Primary Health Care Facility, Tagum City, managed by the Tagum City Health Office, and serves as a permanent public resource for free screenings, particularly for women aged 40 and older.

More Than a Machine

The "Gift of Awareness" is not only about diagnostics it also includes:

• Community education on breast cancer

• Training for local health professionals

• Ongoing support for survivors and at-risk women

• Partnerships with local oncologists for treatment referrals

This holistic approach ensures long-term impact and aligns with Rotary’s commitment to sustainable, high-impact projects.

A Blueprint for Global Impact

What began as a local vision is now a replicable model for other Rotary districts worldwide.

It proves what’s possible when grassroots needs meet international solidarity when compassion is powered by Rotary's global network and commitment to Service Above Self.

In Tagum City, every scan now tells a story: of lives protected, communities strengthened, and a Rotary that listens, responds, and heals.

Sidebar: Quick Facts – Gift of Awareness Project

Global Grant No.: GG2574662

Total Budget: $88,973.84 (approx. PHP 5 million)

Lead Club: Rotary Club of Tagum North (D3860)

International Partners: 4 Rotary Clubs from District 3630, South Korea

Beneficiary: La Filipina Primary Health Care Facility, Tagum City

Target: Women aged 40+, underserved populations

Key Outcomes: Free mammography services, education campaigns, survivor

support

Written by: PAG Arnold M. Nicolas