Leading medical experts, public and private sector partners, and civil society organizations called for urgent and united action to bring the Philippines in line with global standards on vaccination, screening, and treatment towards cervical cancer elimination (CCE) by 2030.
The CCE Summit held under the banner “One Community Against HPV: Innovations Enabling Cervical Cancer Elimination in the Philippines,” identified clear, science-driven pathways against the deadly human papillomavirus (HPV) to meet the World Health Organization’s standards.
A key focus of the summit was the recently released regional guidance from the Asia and Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Aofog), which outlines a tiered set of recommendations to combat the preventable disease, which kills 12 Filipino women every day.
These include a preferred standard of vaccinating both females and males aged 9 to 26 years, with the option of expanding coverage up to age 45; from a minimum standard of vaccinating girls aged 9 to 14 years.
Aofog emphasized the use of the nonavalent (9vHPV) vaccine in countries where it is accessible due to its broader protection against high-risk HPV strains and its favorable safety profile.
In the Philippines, nonavalent HPV vaccine is now predominantly used in private vaccination centers and clinics, which protect against other prevalent HPV types solidifying it as the preferred option for primary prevention of cervical cancer in the Philippines.
On vaccination, the Philippines should be on its way as nonavalent HPV vaccine is also undergoing review by the DOST-Health Technology Assessment (HTA), and with positive recommendation, could also help DOH upgrade its vaccine to the global standards the soonest.
Aofog also underscored the need to scale up public education efforts, citing persistent myths and misinformation surrounding HPV and the vaccine.
Since HPV has also been linked to other cancers, the Aofog also emphasized that HPV vaccination should be inclusive and cover other populations at risk who face specific risks that are often overlooked.
The summit also featured innovations in screening and diagnostics, including the introduction of HPV self-testing kits and AI-enhanced cervical cancer screening technologies. These tools have the potential to significantly improve access and early detection, especially in communities with limited healthcare resources.
Finally, the summit reaffirmed the spirit of the Aofog Manila Declaration first launched in 2019, calling on the Philippines to renew its commitment to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem.
This initiative is consistent with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and the Magna Carta for Women, both of which emphasize gender-responsive health services, social protection, and equitable access to care throughout the stages of a woman’s life
