A broad coalition of Filipinos has stepped up the fight to eliminate the Human Papilloma Virus and one of the dreaded diseases it causes cervical cancer.
National and regional government officials, policymakers, medical societies, patient groups, and members of the private sector have gathered in Manila for the annual HPV Summit, first formed in 2012 as a determined response to the threat imposed by HPV infection and the rising burden of cervical cancer.
Led by the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network in the Philippines or Cecap, the forum was part of a series of activities that marked the Cervical Cancer Consciousness Month, in support of the World Health Organization’s global call to end suffering caused by HPV-related diseases.
Globally, one woman dies of cancer every two minutes—and that 85 percent of the deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, said Rubie Jean Olleras, Technical Support Officer of WHO Philippines, in the opening session of the forum
This situation should not be the case, she said, as cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer if detected early and managed effectively.
Given these factors, the speakers and health experts emphasized during the forum that regular screening and immunization will be the keys to achieve the group’s overall health objectives.
Dr. Clarito Cairo Jr., DoH Cancer Program manager, pointed out that coordinated actions are crucial in creating strong health systems, which will ensure that all women receive the HPV vaccination at the right time. It also enables increased access to screening and treatment facilities for pre-cancerous lesions and cervical cancer.
An example, according to Dr. Cairo, is how the DOH strengthened the Expanded Program on Immunization against HPV through shifting the administration of free quadrivalent HPV vaccines from a community-based approach to a school-based one, in partnership with the Department of Education and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Thanks to this collaboration, more young women aged 9 to 13 years old were protected against HPV-related diseases in the 57 areas included in the EPI, Cairo said.
The DOH also increased access to screening as a secondary preventive measure against cervical cancer.
Dr. Cecilia Llave, Director of the CECAP, led the panel discussion on early screenings which covered a review of the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) programs of the DOH, the need to link the HPV screening to treatment – using cryotherapy – in a single visit approach, and the bringing of innovations in cervical cancer detection.
Dr. Rey de los Reyes, former president of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of the Philippines (SGOP), focused on improving access to treatment options – highlighting the inclusion of cervical cancer treatments in the Z-Benefit Packages offered by PhilHealth.
To this end, Annaliza de Leon, Senior Social Insurance Specialist from PhilHealth, highlighted not only the availability of the Z-benefit for cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment in certain hospitals but also the availability of reimbursement for VIA as the screening tool in accredited facilities.
She also shared that PhilHealth may consider looking into expanding its prevention, screening, and treatment coverage, as its response to the push for universal health coverage.
Forum speakers and panelists also elaborated on the new opportunities being explored in the journey to become an HPV-free Philippines.
These include adapting a gender-neutral approach in administering HPV vaccines and making vaccination a primary care benefit among special populations, such as persons living with human immunodeficiency virus or HIV, as they are immune-compromised and at most risk for the opportunistic infection.
Dr. Rontgene Solante, past president of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, shared that provisions for the PLHIV, as well as the sexual and gender minority target populations, like the LGBT community, were recommended for inclusion in the PSMID and Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV) adult immunization guidelines.
As an example, Australia was cited for its good gender-neutral approach, as the country’s government-funded HPV immunization program is being implemented without gender bias. Quadrivalent HPV vaccines are given to over 70 percent of school-aged male and female residents.
In a dialogue led by Dr. Ella Naliponguit, Director of the Learners Support Services Bureau of the DepEd, it was stressed that in the Philippines, the DOH and the DepEd need to recognize the greater health possibilities that can be achieved if the existing school-based immunization program (SBIP) is expanded to include males, which would ensure that more of the population are protected from the disease.
At the close of the summit, leaders from the multi-stakeholder group re-dedicated themselves to the advocacy and committed to follow through with the next steps - moved and inspired by the day’s discussions – to finally eliminate HPV-related diseases in the Philippines.