Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the sexually transmitted infections that affects young girls and can cause cancer of the cervix. More than 4000 women in Uganda die of cancer of the cervix every year. It kills more women than any other cancer and yet we can protect from girls getting cancer of the cervix by vaccination against HPV. The HPV vaccine was introduced as a routine vaccine to be delivered during every static and outreach immunisation session but intensified through Integrated Child Health Days (ICHDs) which are implemented biannually during the months of April and October, every year.

In 2015, MoH launched immunization against HPV-a virus that causes cancer of the cervix. Immunization against HPV is targeting all 10-year-old girls. However, most of the girls are not going for the vaccination. UNIVEF Uganda therefore, contracted S4P group to identify the barriers around uptake of the HPV vaccine and work with audiences to design solutions for promoting uptake of the vaccine.

S4P Group conducted co-creation sessions with audience representatives in Kamuli, Namayingo and Tororo districts. Major barriers identified included the fear of injections, prevalence of myths and misconceptions, fear that the vaccine would expose the girls to cervical cancer, low risk perception of cervical cancer, failure to distinguish the HPV vaccine from the Tetanus Toxoid vaccine, the fear that the vaccine would make the girls infertile, among others.

Audiences co-created a number of solutions including use of testimonials, public vaccination of children of the influential members of society, availability of vaccination cards, use of exemplary persons as mobilizers, conducting vaccination sessions on weekends and days when the parents / caregivers of the girls are less busy, ensuring the parents / caregivers are present and have given their consent before their daughters are vaccinated, giving of small tokens, among others.

The above solutions are currently being implemented in the three districts and have greatly contributed to an increase in uptake of the vaccines among priority audience members. One of the major solutions that are being rolled out under this program are the kitchen gardens. These are being implemented under the supervision of the U Reporters to help and solve the nutrition issues of young people in the three districts of implementation.