GlaxoSmithKline partners with LGUs to fight Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death in the Philippines. Although the statistics are saddening, the current management, which shifted focus to prevention and early detection, is very encouraging.

  

Yes! This type of cancer can be prevented through giving immunizations against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), the most common causative agent of cervical cancer. Let me make clear that the immunization does not directly provide immunity to the cancer but gives protection against HPV, a virus transmitted by sexual intercourse, which leads to cancer. However, one setback of acquiring this immunization is the cost that ranges from 5,000 to 7,000 pesos per dose. You need three doses to be fully immunized. Now, do the math.

With this concern in mind, GlaxoSmithKline and the Philippine Obstetric and Gynecologic Society along with the support from the local government unit of Pasig, Rizal Medical Center (RMC), and the Social Service Ministry of the Immaculate Help Parish organized a cervical cancer awareness and immunization program held at the Rizal Medical Center Auditorium on July 6, 2012. The beneficiaries were young women, aged 13-15 years, and their mothers. They were given free immunizations by GlaxoSmithKline and were given a lecture by the doctors from RMC on the causation and ways to prevent cervical cancer.

One good point of this program is that the holistic development was given due consideration by the Social Service Ministry which would also include regular counseling programs to the teenagers that would tackle on issues such as teenage relationships, handling peer pressure, etc.

Cong. Romulo expressed his support to this project, hoping that the immunizations can be given at the community level. Although I think this may not be feasible in the near future due to the cost of each vaccine.  If done so, this would definitely occupy a large portion of the budget if shouldered by the local government unit alone. However, if the government would instead subsidize, the cost – even at the minimum – would definitely be a deterrent for the poorer sectors to acquire the immunization. Probably the best way to implement this is through active public-private partnerships and intra- and inter-sectoral linkages, like the one with GlaxoSmithKline and the Rizal Medical Center in this project, which may help in procuring the resources.