Public, Partnerships and Collaborations

Rotary Club of Iloilo South Unites for Cervical Cancer Elimination Advocacy

Rotary Club of Iloilo South Unites for Cervical Cancer Elimination Advocacy 1
28
Nov

The Rotary Club of Iloilo South, one of the oldest and most vibrant clubs in District 3850, welcomed the Cancer Warriors Foundation to its final meeting for November, held last November 28 at Chito’s Hotel. Club President Dr. Elsie Locsin, an obstetrician-gynecologist and passionate advocate for women’s health, invited the foundation to introduce the Cervical Cancer Elimination Advocacy and explore potential partnerships.

Rotary Club of Iloilo South Unites for Cervical Cancer Elimination Advocacy 2

A Legacy of Service and Giving

The club has a long and distinguished history, having produced district leaders such as PDG Ronnie Gabalda. It continues to shine as one of the district’s champions of Rotary Giving. PDG Ronnie proudly shared that they are on track to soon welcome their first Arch Klumph Society member, recognizing cumulative donations of at least USD 250,000. Their commitment to humanitarian service is evident—this Rotary year alone, the club successfully secured a mobile clinic, already gearing up for deployment next Rotary year.

Under Dr. Locsin’s dynamic leadership, the club has been actively conducting cervical cancer screening using the VIA (Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid) method. This year, they have screened more than 400 women, bringing their total to over 700 women since the project began. Their goal for this Rotary year is to reach 500 women screened—a target that reflects their dedication to saving lives through early detection.

Cancer Warriors Foundation Shares Its Mission

Representing the Cancer Warriors Foundation were:

  • Ms. Carmen “Menchie” Auste, CEO

  • Dr. Cecilia “Cecille” Llave, Technical Adviser for SUCCESS Asia Pacific

  • Ms. Gay, Technical Assistant

  • Dr. Bogs Rivera, Founder of End Cervical Cancer Philippines Organization Inc. (CerviQ)

Ms. Menchie Auste delivered a moving account of the foundation’s origins—born from her personal promise to her son as he battled brain cancer. She recounted how Bike for Life, initially her son’s awareness and fundraising initiative during his recovery, became a nationwide movement that elevated understanding of childhood cancer and rallied communities, organizations, and local governments across the country. She noted that Rotary support was instrumental at every stage of this journey.

Rotary Club of Iloilo South Unites for Cervical Cancer Elimination Advocacy 3

Today, Cancer Warriors is a partner of Unitaid, through Expertise France, in implementing SUCCESS Phase 3, a major initiative scaling up cervical cancer elimination efforts in the Philippines and across Asia Pacific. The foundation is currently spearheading the delivery of 17,000 HPV-DNA tests in underserved and geographically isolated areas of Iloilo—particularly in the barangays of Carles, Estancia, and Lemery.

An Expert’s Insight: Dr. Cecille Llave

The crowd warmly received Dr. Cecille Llave, known as the Philippines’ foremost expert and lifelong champion for cervical cancer elimination. She presented an engaging and enlightening lecture on HPV, cervical cancer, the role of HPV-DNA testing, and modern screening strategies. Her clarity and depth left a powerful impression, inspiring club members to explore ways to directly support the cause.

Rotary Club of Iloilo South Unites for Cervical Cancer Elimination Advocacy 4

Exploring Practical Solutions

Dr. Bogs Rivera provided a brief overview of the Speculoscope-Assisted VIA approach—an interim, scalable method that enhances VIA screening while the club works toward eventually integrating HPV-DNA testing, the gold standard for cervical screening.

Pathways Forward

The discussion concluded with several potential avenues for Rotary Club of Iloilo South to support cervical cancer elimination efforts, including:

  • Procuring HPV self-collection test kits, if allowable under Rotary Foundation guidelines

  • Purchasing speculoscopes and thermal ablation devices to strengthen local treatment capacity

  • Expanding their mobile clinic services by adding AI-powered breast ultrasound screening, promoting comprehensive women’s health services

The meeting closed with energy, hope, and shared commitment. With Rotary’s leadership and the Cancer Warrior Foundation’s expertise, the path toward a cervical cancer-free Iloilo—and a cervical cancer-free Philippines—grows clearer and more achievable.

Jesus Randy RIvera

A graduate of the esteemed Far Eastern University - Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation, Dr. Rivera is a radiation oncologist by profession, equipped with specialized training in IMRT and prostate brachytherapy. His expertise has been honed through experiences at renowned institutions such as the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas and the Chicago Prostate Center in Chicago, among others. However, his contributions extend far beyond the clinical realm. Dr Bogs Rivera is the visionary founder of CerviQ, an advocacy group passionately committed to eradicating cervical cancer in the Philippines. Through innovative screening programs, leveraging artificial intelligence and remote diagnostic technologies, CerviQ strives to increase access to cervical cancer screenings in communities, facilitating early detection and potentially life-saving interventions. His leadership not only empowers healthcare professionals but also empowers communities, enabling barangay health workers to conduct screenings efficiently and accurately, with rapid turnaround times for results. Dr. Bogs Rivera embodies the intersection of medical expertise and humanitarianism, dedicated to improving healthcare outcomes and championing the cause of public health in the Philippines.