MSD in the Philippines recently donated 1,500 doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to the PHAPCaresFoundation, for the benefit of Project Red Ribbon, a non-stock, non-profit foundation for HIV and AIDS advocacy. These vaccines will help protect 500 people living with HIV from preventable HPV-related cancers and diseases through the completion of three doses within six months to a year.
“This donation is a humble contribution that will help protect the PLHIV community from HPV-related diseases, including cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers,” said Andreas Riedel, President and Managing Director of MSD in the Philippines. “More importantly, we hope this effort calls attention to the urgent need for leaders across sectors to prioritize and address the health needs of people living with HIV, empowering them to live and thrive with dignity as productive members of society.”
Through this donation, MSD and its partners are helping close healthcare gaps and safeguard lives. Riedel also extended appreciation to partners: “We thank PHAPCares for championing access to ethical medicines and vaccines and for initiating this donation request. We are equally grateful to Project Red Ribbon for their tireless work in supporting and advocating for the HIV community.”
Women living with HIV have a six-fold increased risk of cervical cancer compared to women without HIV. There are, however, limited coverage and services for PLHIV in terms of prevention and early detection of cancer-causing HPV. Despite WHO and other international guidelines recommending HPV vaccine for PLHIV and others with immunocompromising conditions, patients remain unaware of need for increased protection, especially as access to prevention often needs to be actively sought and is largely found in private clinics and facilities such as pharmacies that require out-of-pocket costs.
“This is not just for patients, but also for their families and communities,” said Dr. Maria Rosarita Siasoco, Executive Director of the PHAPCares Foundation. “At PHAPCares, we don’t see it as charity. We see it as dignity in action, reaching out, giving hope, and touching lives. We thank MSD in the Philippines for this crucial partnership, which advances people’s health through vaccination.”
Additionally, the WHO and other medical experts recognize that PLHIV are a priority population for public health programs on HPV-related disease prevention. To optimize the use of limited public health resources in countries like the Philippines, the WHO urges countries to integrate HPV prevention with other health services, such as awareness campaigns for other at-risk risk groups, co-administration with other vaccines, and back-to-back immunization and screening activities for related diseases. Of note, screening for HPV and HIV prior to HPV vaccination for PLHIV was not deemed necessary.
“Private sector partnerships expand our capacity to deliver comprehensive services,” said Syo Joseph Mateo, HIV Surveillance Officer at the DOH Epidemiology Bureau. “The HPV vaccine allocation for PLHIV shows how collaboration strengthens the continuum of care and ensures health systems are more responsive to the needs of our communities.”
Through collaboration, compassion, and commitment, MSD, PHAP Cares, and Project Red Ribbon reaffirm that prevention remains the strongest defense against disease and that no community should be left behind in the fight against HPV and cervical cancer.
