Being diagnosed with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is no longer a death sentence. Advances in medicine, particularly antiretroviral therapy (ART), have transformed HIV into a chronic condition, much like diabetes or heart disease, that can be effectively managed. With consistent medical care, adherence to ART, and healthy lifestyle choices, people living with HIV (PLHIV) can live long, healthy, and productive lives.
In the Philippines, the Department of Health (DoH) provides free antiretroviral medicines at designated facilities nationwide, serving an estimated 252,800 Filipinos currently living with HIV. Yet because the virus weakens their immune systems, PLHIV requires added protection against opportunistic infections and other illnesses. One significant risk is persistent infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), which can lead to cervical, anal, and other cancers.
To help address this risk, MSD Philippines recently donated 1,500 HPV vaccine doses to the PHAPCares Foundation in support of Project Red Ribbon. The donation will enable 500 PLHIV to complete the recommended three-dose HPV vaccination schedule.
“This donation is a humble contribution that will help protect the HIV community from HPV-related diseases, including cervical and other cancers. More importantly, we hope this effort calls attention to the urgent need for leaders across sectors to prioritize the health of people living with HIV, empowering them to live and thrive with dignity,” said Andreas Riedel, President and Managing Director of MSD Philippines.
Riedel also commended PHAPCares, the social responsibility arm of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), for championing access to medicines and vaccines, and thanked Project Red Ribbon for its tireless advocacy and community work. Founded in 2014, Project Red Ribbon promotes HIV/AIDS awareness and provides treatment, care, and support to PLHIV in the country.
Dr. Maria Rosarita Siasoco, Executive Director of PHAPCares Foundation, welcomed the partnership: “This donation is not just for PLHIV but also for their families and communities. We see this initiative as dignity in action, reaching out, giving hope, and touching lives.”
Despite being preventable through vaccination and screening, cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among Filipino women. Low immunization coverage and limited awareness continue to fuel its prevalence. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that routine HPV vaccination of girls and women could prevent 60 million cervical cancer cases and 45 million deaths globally over the next century.
MSD Philippines’ latest HPV vaccines donation to Project Red Ribbon supports the WHO’s 90-70-90 strategy to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, which has three key targets: 90% of girls fully vaccinated by age 15, 70% of women screened between the ages of 35 and 45, and 90% of women with the disease receiving treatment.
This initiative underscores the vital role of partnerships in health. “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,” said Syo Joseph Mateo, HIV Surveillance Officer at the DoH Epidemiology Bureau.
“On behalf of the more than 10,000 PLHIV and 200 children living with HIV that we serve, maraming salamat (thank you) for trusting us to bring vaccines to those who need them most,” added Ico Johnson, President of Project Red Ribbon and Vice-President of My Hub Cares.
Harvey Alvarez, Clinic Case Manager and Peer Support at My Hub Cares, a private organization providing HIV and STI care, stressed the continuing need for expanded services for the HIV community.
The research-based pharmaceutical industry has long been at the forefront of developing antiretroviral medicines that transformed HIV into a manageable condition. Today, the industry continues to advance that mission by working with government, civil society, and patient groups to broaden access to life-saving medicines and vaccines.
Protecting PLHIV from HPV-related cancers is both a public health priority and a moral imperative. Through collective action, we can ensure that those living with HIV are not only able to survive, but to thrive with dignity, hope, and health.
Teodoro B. Padilla is the executive director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines which represents the biopharmaceutical medicines and vaccines industry in the country. Its members are at the forefront of developing, investing and delivering innovative medicines, vaccines and diagnostics for Filipinos to live healthier and more productive lives.
