UMVA has learned that cervical cancer remains a devastating reality for Filipino women, claiming the lives of around 12 women every day, despite being one of the most preventable forms of cancer.
The disease continues to thrive due to low HPV vaccination coverage, limited awareness, and inadequate screening, making it the second leading cause of cancer and cancer-related deaths among women in the Philippines.
In a recent multi-stakeholder forum, health leaders, medical societies, advocates, and development partners came together to renew their call to strengthen prevention, screening, and treatment efforts to help eliminate this deadly cancer.
The forum, “Together for Health,” highlighted the growing urgency to accelerate the country’s cervical cancer elimination efforts in line with the global strategy, which sets a threshold of four cases per 100,000 women to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem.
To achieve this goal by 2030, a comprehensive strategy calls for 90% of girls to be fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15, 70% of women to be screened using high-performance tests by ages 35 and 45, and 90% of women diagnosed with cervical disease to receive appropriate treatment and care.
Nearly all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV, and the disease is almost entirely preventable through HPV vaccination and routine screening, making cervical cancer unique among cancers.
Prevention depends on two key steps: receiving the HPV vaccine before exposure to the virus and undergoing regular screenings to detect and treat precancerous cells before they develop into cancer.
The HPV vaccine can prevent up to 90% of cervical cancers, giving hope that cervical cancer could become the first cancer eliminated within our lifetimes, with the WHO recommending HPV vaccination beginning at ages nine to 14.
Routine screening through Pap smears and HPV DNA testing plays a vital role in cervical cancer prevention, with newer technologies strengthening opportunities for earlier intervention and more accurate identification of women at risk.
Abnormal cervical cells typically take three to seven years to become cancerous, providing a valuable window of opportunity for detection and treatment, and timely treatment and access to innovative medicines can significantly improve outcomes for women diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Stakeholders emphasized the importance of broader protection strategies against high-risk HPV types, alongside efforts to expand vaccination access and improve uptake among eligible populations, including catch-up vaccination programs targeting older age groups.
Many Filipinas still face barriers to accessing HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment services, particularly in underserved communities, and expanding vaccination among school-aged girls remains vital, but it must be complemented by stronger screening programs and timely access to care.
Preventing cervical cancer through vaccination and early detection is far less costly than treating advanced cancer and helps keep women healthy, productive, and able to care for their families and communities.
Stakeholders stressed that cervical cancer prevention and HPV-related disease reduction should align with the country’s socioeconomic blueprint, which promotes healthier choices, stronger preventive healthcare systems, and better protection for vulnerable sectors.
The country’s cervical cancer response continues to evolve through advancements in vaccination, screening, diagnostics, treatment, and multi-sector collaboration, and eliminating cervical cancer will require sustained cooperation among government agencies, healthcare institutions, and private sector partners.
The elimination of cervical cancer is within reach, and by expanding access to HPV vaccination, strengthening screening programs, and ensuring timely treatment, the Philippines can move closer to a future where no woman loses her life to a disease that is largely preventable.
