‘Journalists can boost HPV vaccine registration, dispel misinformation’

Journalists can play a crucial role in dispelling misinformation about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and increasing registration in hard-to-reach areas to make the HPV campaign successful.

Health officials and experts expressed the view today in an orientation workshop on ‘HPV vaccination campaign for the media people/journalists’ held at the Deputy Commissioner's conference room in the city.
 
The National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC) organised the event with the support of UNICEF, Gavi and the World Health Organization (WHO).
 
Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Md Nazrul Islam attended the workshop as the chief guest with Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rabiul Faisal in the chair.
 
Joint Secretary (Admin) to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Golam Azam, Director (Training and Engineering) of NIMC Md Nazrul Islam, its Deputy Director Md Sohel Parvez, Civil Surgeon Dr Md Mostafa Zaman Chowdhury and Social and Behaviour Change Officer of UNICEF in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions Monjur Ahmed spoke as guests of honour.
 
Health Officer of UNICEF field office for Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions Dr Bikash Chandra Das delivered a presentation on HPV situation, importance of HPV vaccination for adolescents to protect millions of girls from cervical cancer across Bangladesh.   
 
“Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Bangladesh.

 The HPV vaccine is safe, highly effective, and crucial in preventing cervical cancer,” he said.
 
Mohammad Golam Azam discussed the steps taken by the government involving administrations, departments, educational institutions, Imams, media and other stakeholders to make the HPV vaccination campaign a success.
 
The Civil Surgeon sought media support and expressed confidence that all eligible adolescents will be vaccinated on time in Rangpur where 77.80 percent of the total of 1,14,212 adolescents have already been brought under the HPV vaccination program.
 
Monjur Ahmed said, “We are working with local media, social media and community networks to reach younger generation and hard-to-reach populations.

 Our ongoing efforts are ensuring broad awareness and vaccine uptake across Rangpur division.”
 
The chief guest said the HPV vaccine will play an effective role in preventing cervical cancer.

This vaccine has no side effects. Many are spreading rumours about it. But this rumour has no basis.
 
“The mass media should widely publicize the benefits of HPV vaccination,” he said, and urged journalists to work to encourage guardians and adolescents in remote areas to receive this vaccine.
 
The Deputy Commissioner expressed his confidence that local journalists would go to hard-reach areas and convince guardians to make their daughters get  inoculated with HPV vaccines to protect them from cervical cancer.