Improve Communication Skills of Teachers and Health Workers for Cervical Cancer Prevention Education

FAJAR, MAKASSAR – The Public Health Portal (Portkesmas), with the support of UNICEF Indonesia, is collaborating with the Makassar Health Service to organize Health Communication Training for HPV vaccination.

Including the Makassar Department of Education and the Risk Communication and Community Engagement Working Group (Pokja RCCE+), through the “Stay Together” campaign in Makassar. 30 participants attended the activity at Hotel Santika, Jl Sultan Hasanuddin, between 2-3 October 2024.

Makassar Health Service Disease Prevention and Control Department Head, Dr. Andi Mariani, MHKes, said the training was aimed at building behavior change communication skills.

“This comes from health workers, teachers and health instructors from non-governmental organizations (NGOs),” he said.

This is for public acceptance of vaccination using the Interpersonal Communication (KAP) method.

He explained that this collaborative initiative is to increase vaccination performance in Makassar. Because breast cancer is a real threat to women.

“But now with a vaccine that is done twice at the age of 11 and 12 years, one dose each, this disease can be prevented,” he said.

It is hoped that the collaboration “Guard Together” started by UNICEF will be expanded. So that more health workers, teachers and health instructors have such communication skills.

Makassar Education Service Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst, Andi Asma explained the importance of routine access to vaccination in schools for teachers and students, as well as parents. In addition, school child vaccination month or BIAS needs the support of many parties to overcome the opposition that still exists.