Rangpur: 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. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, 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 Chowdh ury, 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 and the importance of HPV vaccination for adolescents to protect millions of girls from cervical cancer across Bangladesh. Dr Bikash Chandra Das highlighted that cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Bangladesh. He emphasized that the HPV vaccine is safe, highly effective, and crucial in preventing cervical cancer. 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 per cent of the total of 1,14,212 adolescents have already been brought under the HPV vaccination program. Monjur Ahmed stated, "We are working with local media, social media, and community networks to reach younger generations and hard-to-reach populations. Our ongoing efforts are ensuring broad awareness and vaccine uptake across Rangpur division." The chief guest affirmed that the HPV vaccine will play an effective role in preventing cervical cancer, adding that the vaccine has no side effects and that rumours about it are baseless. He urged the mass media to widely publicize the benefits of HPV vaccination and encouraged journalists to work to persuade guardians and adolescents in remote areas to receive this vaccine. The Deputy Commissioner expressed his confidence that local journalists would go to hard-to-reach areas and convince guardians to have their daughters inoculated with HPV vaccines to protect them from cervical cancer.
