The District Task Force on Immunization (DTFI), in collaboration with Jhpiego, organised a District-level workshop on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination at the Conference Hall of District Hospital, Kiphire, on October 12.
The workshop aimed to review the progress of HPV vaccination in the District, identify challenges and opportunities, and develop strategies to strengthen programme implementation through coordinated efforts among line departments and stakeholders.
Jhpiego presented the objectives of the workshop and provided an overview of the HPV vaccination programme, while the District Immunization Officer highlighted the status of vaccination in Kiphire, outlining the progress made, existing challenges and opportunities for improvement.
The workshop focused on sensitising participating departments and stakeholders on the importance of HPV vaccination in preventing cervical cancer, and promoting community mobilisation and awareness. Discussions also covered communication resources, key messages on HPV vaccination, and strategies to address misconceptions, concerns and vaccine hesitancy.
An open discussion was held to encourage stakeholder participation and identify practical measures to improve vaccination coverage across the district.
The workshop underscored the importance of collective responsibility, effective communication and coordinated community engagement for the successful implementation of the HPV vaccination programme in Kiphire.
MON:
A district-level coordination workshop to strengthen Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake was held on October 9 at the DRDA Hall, Mon.
The workshop brought together officials from district administration, health department personnel, representatives of Jhpiego, the Konyak community’s women organisation (KNSK), churches, educational institutions, student organisations and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for improving HPV vaccination coverage in the district.
The workshop focused on addressing the low uptake of HPV vaccination in Mon district through enhanced community awareness, stakeholder engagement, vaccine confidence and collective action.
Deputy Commissioner of Mon, Wennyei Konyak, NCS, underscored the importance of community awareness and parental education in ensuring the success of public health initiatives. He encouraged school authorities, churches, student organisations and community leaders to actively disseminate information about HPV vaccination, and address concerns among parents. He stressed that sustained awareness and community acceptance are essential to encourage eligible girls to receive the vaccine.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Mon, Dr Supongmenla Walling, welcomed the participants and emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts to improve HPV vaccination coverage. She acknowledged the support of Jhpiego in assisting the district with its vaccination efforts and highlighted the need to address the challenges contributing to low acceptance of the vaccine. She expressed hope that the workshop would help develop practical strategies to reach more eligible beneficiaries and strengthen efforts to prevent cervical cancer.
The CMO presented the current status of HPV vaccination in Mon district. Against a target of 2,235 beneficiaries, 118 vaccination sessions had been planned, of which 116 were conducted. However, only 54 adolescent girls have been vaccinated, highlighting the need for intensified efforts to improve coverage.
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Representing Jhpiego, Senior Advisor, Raju Tamang, highlighted the critical role of stakeholder participation in improving vaccination coverage. He noted that while the health department remains the primary implementing agency, the involvement of schools, faith-based organisations, civil society groups, community organisations and local leaders is essential to build public trust and encourage eligible beneficiaries to access vaccination services.
He further emphasised the importance of learning from successful vaccination initiatives in neighbouring states, and adapting effective approaches to the local context. He encouraged stakeholders to work collectively with the health department to mobilise communities, strengthen vaccine confidence and facilitate access to vaccination services.
A stakeholder discussion was subsequently held to identify specific actions that different organisations and institutions could undertake to improve vaccination uptake. Participants shared their views and assured their support and cooperation in working together with the health department to strengthen awareness and encourage eligible beneficiaries to access vaccination services.
The workshop concluded with a shared commitment among participating stakeholders to support the district’s HPV vaccination efforts and strengthen coordination with the health department. The collective engagement is expected to contribute towards improved awareness, greater community acceptance and increased vaccination uptake among eligible adolescent girls in Mon district.
The workshop reaffirmed the importance of a coordinated, community-driven approach to HPV vaccination, with all stakeholders playing a vital role in protecting girls’ health and strengthening cervical cancer prevention efforts.
The workshop was facilitated by the Jhpiego team, comprising Raju Tamang, Senior Advisor; Harshita Kataria, Communication Officer; and Ethungyani Ovung, Programme State Consultant, who also chaired the workshop.
