A workshop on HPV vaccination program was held in Rangpur under the initiative of National Institute of Mass-communication. Md. Nazrul Islam, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, was present as the chief guest at the workshop held on Saturday (November 09, 2024) at the conference room of Rangpur District Commissioner. Rangpur District Commissioner Mohammad Rabiul Faisal presided over this workshop organized under the awareness campaign program for child, adolescent and women development.

In the chief guest’s speech, Additional Secretary Nazrul Islam said that HPV vaccine has an effective role in preventing cervical cancer.
But sadly true, many people are spreading rumors about this vaccine. This rumor has no basis. In order to reach the right message about HPV vaccination to the people, the government as well as the mass media should take massive publicity measures. He urged the parents, teachers, leading persons and all concerned to work together to encourage the girls in the remote areas to get this vaccination.

Rangpur Civil Surgeon Dr. Md. Mostafa Zaman Chowdhury said that the number of girls targeted for HPV vaccination in Rangpur district is 114 thousand 212 people. So far 88 thousand 857 girls have been given HPV vaccination. For those who have not yet received the HPV vaccine, extensive publicity should be provided to encourage vaccination. He urged all concerned including media workers to play a responsible role to make the HPV vaccination program a success.

In the President’s speech, the District Commissioner of Rangpur said that to make the HPV vaccination program successful, parents, teachers and adolescents should be informed about the need for HPV vaccination. The message related to HPV vaccination should also be disseminated at district administration and other public and private department events. He assured full cooperation from the district administration to make HPV vaccination program successful in Rangpur district.

Journalists participating in the workshop shared their views on strategies, do’s and limitations to make HPV vaccination a success. Journalists said that mass media campaigns will be carried out to make the HPV vaccination program a success.

At the beginning of the workshop, field officer of UNICEF Rangpur and Rajshahi Division. Vikas Chandra Das presented a documentary on HPV vaccination. Deputy Director of National Institute of Mass-communication Sohail Parvez, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Golam Azam and UNICEF’s Social and Behavioral Change Officer Manzoor Ahmed gave speeches in the workshop. Officials of Rangpur district offices of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and journalists from local print and electronic media were present in the workshop.