In line with the program of WHO through APEC and the Department of Health of the Philippines, AOFOG joined the Philippines Obstetrical and Gynecologic Society (POGS) in the 26th Asia and Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology International Congress for its call to action for cervical cancer elimination.

Multiple stakeholders from all Asia Oceania regions pledged to commit towards programs and activities that will save women’s lives–including WHO’s flagship program that’s eliminating cervical cancer. Countries which joined the cause include Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Saudi, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Pictured above in The AOFOG Manila Declaration: a Call to Action Against Cervical Cancer, Signing of the Collaboration is AOFOG incoming and outgoing President Kazunori Ochiai and Ravi Chandran respectively, DOH Secretary of Health, Francisco Duque, POGS incoming and outgoing President Christia Padolina and Mario Bernardino respectively, and Cervical Cancer Prevention Network Philippines’ Cecilia A. Ladines Llave.

Following the event’s goal, the workshop session Empowering Obstetricians and Gynecologists for
Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control was organized by AOFOG and POGS in collaboration with Cervical Cancer Prevention Network Philippines (cecapph.com), Society of Gynecologic Oncology of the Philippines (SGOP), Philippine Society of Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy (PSCPC), Philippine Infectious Disease Society of Gynecologists (PIDSOG), and Asia-Oceania Genital Infection and Neoplasia Society of the Philippines (AOGIN).

Its objectives were to:

  1. Educate and update medical practitioners for quality assurance
  2. Empower and orient participants on the standardized procedures for early cancer detection and treatment (sessions for doctors, nurses, midwives)

The quality assurance and standardization of procedures will ensure effective service access to eliminate cervical cancer.

  • Dr. Cecilia Llave introduced the session and objectives to the workshop participants. There were 156 participants – doctors, nurses, and midwives.
  • Professor Kazunori Ochiai, newly elected President of AOFOG, presented the effectiveness of screening methods. After which, a certificate of appreciation was presented to him by Dr. Cecilia Llave
  • Presentation on HPV DNA testing by Dr. Jean Anne B. Toral
  • Dr. Carolyn Zalameda-Castro gave a presentation on the CryoPop which is an innovation on the cryotherapy machine by JHPIEGO, affiliate of Johns Hopkins University
  • Dr. Judith Cabanela discussed the topic on Colposcopy
  • The topic on LEEP was presented by Dr. Jericho Thaddeus Luna
  • A lecture on Visual Inspection of Acetic Acid was given by Dr. Larraine Malabonga
  • Demonstration on Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) facilitated by Dr. Larraine Malabonga, CECAP, JHPIEGO, and Dr. Erwin De Mesa of PIDSOG
  • Breakout on Colposcopy moderated by Dr. Judith Cabanela and representatives from PINNACLE with Dr. Lilet Cid and Dr. Cecilia Evangelista
  • CryoPop Demo Station with facilitators Dr. Carolyn Zalameda Castro, Ms. Margaret Mensa of JHPIEGO, and Pooja Awasthi of Pregna, with support from Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation (ACCF) Chair Graeme Laide
  • Session on HPV DNA Testing facilitated by Dr. Jean Anne B. Toral, Dr. Ana Victoria Dy Echo, and representatives from MACARE
  • Session on LEEP facilitated by Dr. Jericho Thaddeus Luna, Dr. Lilibeth Sia Su, and representatives from MACARE