MSD in the Philippines’ Hope From Within cancer advocacy garners industry recognition. Receiving the Silver Anvils for “Hope From Within” is Allan Ancheta (6th from left), Business Unit Director for Oncology, with the MSD Team (2nd from left-right: Eric Sajor, Roy Catugas, Marian Cuevas, Russell Santos, Dr. Raji Shamaileh, Christine Zuniga and Wilfred So Chua)
Global healthcare company Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) in the Philippines was recognized for its excellent public relations programs on raising lung cancer awareness at the 55th Anvil Awards last February 28 at The Manila Hotel.
The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) awarded MSD’s Hope From Within with 2 Silver Anvil Awards for Public Relations Program on a Sustained Basis – Digital Campaign and Specialized Public Relations Program – Advocacy Campaign.
Hope from Within is a multi-stakeholder cancer advocacy campaign led by MSD in the Philippines, aimed to raise awareness and strengthen the fight against the disease through education about early testing and new treatments such as Immunotherapy.
From 2016-2018, the advocacy focused on building awareness and community engagement. It facilitated and participated in various fora that tackled challenges of Filipino cancer patients and explored opportunities to redefine cancer care through multi-sectoral collaboration and policy development. The advocacy highlighted in its campaign that access to breakthrough treatments can give new hope for suffering patients and their loved ones, and for them to be reminded that cancer is no longer a death sentence.
In 2019, the campaign zeroed in on lung cancer. The communication efforts shifted to increasing actual patient and caregiver engagements. Hope From Within needed to go where patients, caregivers, and other stakeholders actually meet and so the digital campaign became the main lever for the continuing conversation, supported by a sustained public relations program.
The continued collaboration among multidisciplinary advocates helped reach the objectives of Hope From Within. The advocacy campaign’s media engagements, participated by many of the stakeholders from the health sector which include leaders, advocates, policymakers, survivors, support groups, and patients, were able to call for proper cancer care – sparking conversations and actions on how to reduce the burden of cancer-related mortalities, and spread information and increase access to new scientifically proven treatment options with the aim of easing the burden of cancer for Filipino patients and their families.
Hope From Within also actively partners and supports patient groups that supported the enactment of Republic Act 11215- the National Integrated Cancer Control Act on February 14, 2019, and the issuance of its Implementing Rules and Regulations by the Department of Health on August 9, 2019.
This program is in line with MSD’s own credo, “Inventing for Life”, which encapsulates the company’s vision of inventing and innovating to bring forward healthcare solutions for many of the world’s most challenging diseases.
“MSD is honored to be recognized for our efforts in providing an avenue for positive and hopeful conversations plus a caring and supportive system for patients throughout their cancer journey through Hope From Within and we share this with all our partners,” said Dr. Beaver Tamesis, Managing Director, MSD in the Philippines.
“Hope From Within is about putting the Filipino Cancer patient at the center and giving them a platform to share their story with a stronger voice, and more importantly, a stronger fight to overcome the disease. It’s about the community of decision-makers, influencers and supporters coming together to build a better support system,” Tamesis added.
The advocacy program was previously awarded with a Gold Anvil Award for Immunotherapy in 2017. For more information, visit https://www.hopefromwithin.org/ or like the official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Hopefromwithinph/.
This year, MSD celebrates 25 years of helping the Filipino patient, backed by pioneering research to advance the prevention and treatment of various health diseases through vaccination against life-threatening infections like HPV, Pneumonia, Measles, and Rota-Virus; treatment for cancer, cardio-metabolic diseases, and emerging animal diseases. As the company looks forward to the next 25 years and beyond, it remains committed to increasing access to quality healthcare through policies, programs and partnerships that aim to benefit the patients.
The Anvil Awards is a prestigious award-giving body organized annually by PSPR that gives prominent recognition to outstanding public relations programs, tools, and practitioners.
ADVT