Philippines

Unitaid is funding a consortium, led by Expertise France, that seeks to eliminate cervical cancer in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guatemala and the Philippines through secondary prevention (i.e., detecting disease early to slow or halt its progress). The SUCCESS project is designed to transition the countries from a largely opportunistic cervical cancer screening model to a systematic approach, incorporating innovations such as HPV testing with self-collection, efficient treatment methods like thermal ablation, and enhanced information dissemination on cervical cancer and prevention technologies. In so doing, SUCCESS aims to support countries to “leapfrog” to a state-of-the-art services model recommended by the World Health Organization. As the implementing partner of the consortium, Jhpiego is expanding cervical cancer prevention and treatment services using established relationships with governments and stakeholders. In the Philippines, Jhpiego is increasing the reach and potential impact of SUCCESS activities with supplemental funding from Boeing and Roche.

The CLAMS Project builds on progress made by the SUCCESS Project in increasing access to optimal early diagnosis and treatment technology, specifically HPV screening and thermal ablation. The project aims to enhance the testing capacity of public facilities by using a centralized laboratory model to process HPV samples in the highly urbanized cities of Metro Manila. With support from Roche, the project conducts comprehensive free screenings using the latest HPV DNA technology through self-collection. CLAMS introduces HPV DNA testing as a secondary prevention strategy, aiming to simplify cervical cancer screening for women. Additionally, the project seeks to support demand generation and awareness activities for cervical cancer preventive services in the cities of Manila, Navotas, Quezon City, Taguig and Muntinlupa through direct support for health education and promotion initiatives.

The HPV vaccine is one of the most effective ways to prevent cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases, yet there is still disproportionate access to it, specifically among girls and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries. The HAPPI Consortium, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was launched to increase and sustain equity and program quality, and accelerate coverage of HPV vaccination. John Snow, Inc. and HAPPI Consortium partners Jhpiego, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, International Vaccine Access Center and PATH are focusing on evidence-based policy, equity, program quality, technical assistance and building a robust evidence base. Specifically, Jhpiego is supporting the HAPPI/HPV Accelerator-Phase 1 Project to facilitate global coordination and providing HPV vaccine support in several countries.

In the Philippines, Jhpiego provided technical assistance to the Department of Health’s National Immunization Program through HPV vaccination coverage analysis, analysis implementation status of local government units and participation of public elementary schools, technical advocacy on global guidelines on dosing recommendations, development of social and behavioral change communication strategy and materials, and logistical support for preparations for resumption of nationwide school-based immunization, in partnership with the Department of Education and local government units.

The Philippines, which is the fifth largest contributor to the 18 million zero-dose children globally, has had repeated outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) over the past decade, underscoring the need to support the Department of Health (DOH) and reinforce a system-wide approach to strengthening immunization and surveillance programs. The purpose of this project is to enable the government to realize its commitments to strengthen immunization program capacity. This is being done by introducing innovative evidence-based approaches, adapted to the devolved health management structure, that support the DOH and prioritized local government units to prevent VPDs, detect outbreaks, respond to outbreaks and sustain progress. Expected outcomes of this project, which is funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are to: reduce the number of zero-dose children, increase coverage of prioritized life-course vaccines, reduce the frequency and prevent major disruptive outbreaks, and strengthen the underlying Philippine health systems to sustainably maintain these achievements.

Jhpiego is implementing this five-year project in partnership with the Field Epidemiology Training Program Alumni Foundation, Inc., and in collaboration with the University of Philippines National Institutes of Health and PharmaJet. Funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this project supports the Government of the Philippines to: 1) meet the immediate need by rapidly filling immunity gaps (considering both current and new vaccines); 2) boost outbreak detection and response; and 3) strengthen the quality and long-term sustainability of the immunization program.