Dear HIFA colleagues,
Thank you for your contributions to the discussion so far and approaching our WHO-HIFA webinar on 19 November. https://www.hifa.org/news/register-our-webinar-cervical-cancer-collabora...
What have we learned so far? What more can we learn?
We turn our attention to the most important question of all: Q6. What could be done to help people find, understand and use reliable information about cervical cancer?
Here are a few suggestions from our discussion so far. Would you like to add to this?
Amal Abdikarim Yusuf (Somalia): “In Somalia, it is particularly important to communicate sensitively about women's reproductive health, respect cultural values and protect confidentiality... community health education should be provided in simple, understandable to appropriate language... Girls should understand their bodies, know how to care for their reproductive health and feel safe and confident speaking up when they notice unusual symptoms or changes."
Diya Banerjee Sur (India): “The only counter that has made the program successful is having treated survivors talk to and motivate local village women to join this mission!”
Frank Brightwell (Dominican Republic): “If I could offer one recommendation, it is that reliable cervical-cancer information travels best through a trusted local messenger attached to the care women already reach.”
Joshua Iorember Akaa (Nigeria): Empowering younger populations with accurate, age-appropriate health information, particularly on HPV infection, HPV vaccination, cervical cancer prevention and healthy behaviours, is essential.
We are very keen to hear more about *your* personal and/or professional experience, wherever you are in the world. What do you think is most important to help people find, understand and use reliable information about cervical cancer? How to protect people from misinformation and misconceptions? Your inputs will be synthesised into a report to inform future WHO advocacy and knowledge products.
We look forward to hear your thoughts. Email: hifa@hifaforums.org
Many thanks, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org