Public Health Initiative Liberia (PHIL) in collaboration with the
The seventy-six community mobilizers will cover the seven health districts of Montserrado with in a period of four days. Those assigned in Todee and Careysburg health districts were trained on
The second group of community mobilizers was trained on
The exercise is made possible through funding from
PHIL in fulfillment of the partnership is carrying out the social mobilization and community engagement exercises to increase the demand for the HPV vaccine in the country.
Cervical Cancer is caused by the Human Papillomavirus which is the leading cause of cancer found in Liberian women between the ages of 15 to 45-years. Studies found that there are over 100 types of HPV, with at least 14 known to cause cancer. According to WHO, types 16 and 18 are mostly responsible for 70percent of cervical cancer cases in the world.
In
Given that HPV is a sexually transmitted infection, the vaccine is highly effective when administered to children. Currently, the government is prioritizing girls that are nine-years-old.
The vaccine is available at all public health facilities in the 15 counties and is being administered twice, one after every six months for girls at the age of nine.
The shutdown of schools the fear of visiting health facilities because of COVID-19 among Liberians has affected the demand generation activities around this vaccine.
PHIL Executive Director
"We want to protect the next generation of Liberian women from being affected with cervical cancer because as it is, too many women in
She encouraged the health mobilizers to be passionate about the engagement and encouraged communities to open their doors and welcome the mobilizers.
The community engagement and mobilization will be extended shortly to Nimba and Grand Bassa counties.
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