MERF Strengthens Community Workforce through Two-Day Induction Training for Cervical Cancer Prevention in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

MERF conducted a two-day induction training for Community Outreach Workers (COWs) under the project “Increased HPV Vaccination Coverage through Strengthening Community Engagement and Policy Advocacy.” Supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, through MannionDaniels, the initiative aims to accelerate cervical cancer prevention by increasing HPV vaccination coverage and strengthening community engagement across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The training was led by Dr. Abdul Basit, Project Manager, HPV KP, and facilitated by Mr. Bakht Zaman, District Project Officer, Mr. Shoaib, SBCC Officer, Peshawar and Mr. Muhammad Ajmal, MEAL Coordinator. Together, they delivered comprehensive technical sessions on the epidemiology of cervical cancer, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the role of HPV vaccination in cervical cancer prevention, the national HPV vaccination strategy, vaccine safety, and evidence-based Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC). Community Outreach Workers were also trained on interpersonal communication, caregiver counselling, addressing vaccine myths and misinformation, referral pathways, data quality, community feedback mechanisms, and demand generation to improve community acceptance of HPV vaccination.

As frontline health mobilizers, Community Outreach Workers play a pivotal role in advancing cervical cancer prevention by building trust within communities, promoting informed decision-making, and encouraging timely HPV vaccination among eligible adolescent girls. The training equipped participants with practical skills to identify barriers to vaccine acceptance, engage caregivers using culturally sensitive communication, strengthen community-based surveillance and referrals, and improve linkages between communities and health services.

The project seeks to safeguard adolescent girls across six target districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by promoting cervical cancer prevention through community mobilization, culturally tailored SBCC interventions, and partnerships with schools, community influencers, civil society organizations (CSOs), and media. Advocacy with religious leaders, policymakers, and media stakeholders will further strengthen public confidence in HPV vaccination and support an enabling policy environment for sustainable cervical cancer prevention efforts.

At the health systems level, the initiative will strengthen alignment with the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), enhance frontline provider capacity, improve community feedback mechanisms, and reinforce coordination between communities and health facilities. By investing in community-led action and evidence-based communication, the project contributes to long-term cervical cancer prevention, protecting future generations of women through timely HPV vaccination and sustained community engagement.