Cervical Cancer: Group Trains Health Workers on Sensitisation for HPV Vaccine
By: Femi Mustapha
The Girl Effect Nigeria, in collaboration with Hope for Communities and Children (H4CC) has trained health workers on addressing misconceptions of community members on the intake of the Human Papillon Virus (HPV) vaccine used to prevent cervical cancer.
The Group yesterday gathered health workers from different Primary Healthcare Wards in Chikun and Kubau LGA for sensitization of the new digital app introduced to create awareness on the HPV vaccine.
Speaking to the media, one of the Facilitators, Garba D. Umar said the goal of the training is to address the push-back experience in three LGAs of the State, Kaduna South and Kubau.
He explained that the training convened Community Health Extension Workers (CHEW) representing different PHC Wards in each LGA.
“These are people who are involved in normal or daily routine immunization in various Health Facilities and it’s a collaboration between the health and education sector.
“So, what we are doing is to teach them the technicalities of handling the digital tool to capture the consent of people in the communities, their perception of general immunization, and the HPV.
The Facilitator further explained that, after the training, the participants would be deployed to the communities to hold sessions with the people to change their behavior towards immunization, particularly the HPV Vaccination.
Speaking on the response of the participants to the training, he disclosed that about 95 percent are highly competent and ready to leverage the training while the remaining five percent are still trying to pick up but are equally enthusiastic about it.
“We have taught them entry activities into the communities, how to address the people because you just can’t walk into a place and do as you wish.
“Once we can achieve the change of perception and focus, we are going to do active re-vaccination of those who missed out in schools or some designated point like the Village Head’s house.”
One of the participants, Charity Sunday from PHC Sabon Tasha, Chukun Ward, the training showed her a skilled approach how to create awareness of the HPV Vaccines in various communities.
She opined that her status as a licensed health worker in her community had provided access for her to reach parents and girls to sensitize and persuade them to accept the vaccine.
“Some of the people already have negative misconceptions about the vaccine; they feel there is a hidden agenda behind the vaccine.
“But since we live in the same community with them, they know us and trust us as health workers, it will help us to access them, girls between ages 9-14, and change their minds about it.
She stressed that the whole idea is to increase awareness of the benefits of the vaccine, which is free, safe to use, and aids in the prevention of cervical cancer.
Another participant, Bashir Salisu from PHC Anchor in Kubau LGA, said he learned how to use the app to safeguard client information while creating awareness.
He added that, while he knew about HPV, the training has increased his knowledge about critical aspects of the vaccine, and he promised to implement all that has been taught.
