FLO Kolkata, under the leadership of Chairperson Mansi Agarwal, hosted an insightful session on HPV Vaccine & Cervical Cancer Awareness among women from the community at Apni Kutir, Behala. HPV Vaccination plays an important role in preventing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and promoting preventive healthcare.
For community women, many of whom are mothers, access to accurate and comprehensible health information is an important first step towards making timely healthcare decisions for their families. The session therefore extended beyond individual awareness by placing mothers in a position to carry this knowledge into their households and discuss HPV vaccination with their daughters and families.
Dr. Musarrat Parveen led this awareness session who addressed the fundamental aspects of cervical cancer, including its causes, risk factors, and its association with Human Papillomavirus (HPV). She explained the importance of timely vaccination and the recommended age groups, while also highlighting the broader relevance of preventive healthcare and screening.
Key Takeaways
- 60 community women were sensitised to cervical cancer prevention, creating a stronger foundation of health awareness within the community.
- Mothers gained a clearer understanding of HPV and its association with cervical cancer, enabling them to engage more meaningfully with preventive health information.
- The importance of HPV vaccination for adolescent girls was clearly communicated, helping mothers recognise vaccination as an important preventive healthcare consideration for their daughters.
- Participants were informed about the recommended age groups for HPV vaccination, providing them with relevant information to guide conversations and decisions concerning their children.
- The session addressed the information gap around HPV vaccination, making a specialised healthcare subject more accessible and understandable to community women.
- Women were encouraged to take preventive healthcare decisions proactively, rather than waiting until health concerns arise.
- Participants received direct access to medical expertise, allowing them to clarify their concerns and make their understanding of HPV vaccination more informed.
- The initiative extended awareness from mothers to their families, with participating women equipped to communicate the importance of HPV vaccination to their daughters and other family members.
- FICCI FLO Kolkata Chapter created a bridge between awareness and access, facilitating a pathway for community families to explore HPV vaccination for their adolescent children.
- The initiative strengthened community-level preventive healthcare awareness, demonstrating how informed mothers can become important conduits for improving health awareness and preventive practices within their families.
Impact & Outcome
60 community women returned with knowledge that could be shared within their households, particularly with regard to the importance of HPV vaccination for their daughters. Through this initiative, FLO Kolkata also sought to serve as a bridge between the community and access to HPV vaccination. The interactive format enabled participants to clarify their concerns directly with the medical expert and develop a more informed understanding of cervical cancer prevention.