UNICEF Deploys Volunteers On HPV Vaccine Awareness Campaign In Osun

A team of 15 young volunteers is leading a grassroots campaign in Osun State to boost awareness and uptake of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among nine-year-old girls, as part of a UNICEF-backed initiative to reduce cervical cancer.

The volunteers, drawn from Ife North, Ife South, Ede North, Ede South, and Osogbo local government areas, are at the heart of a six-month youth-led project targeting 14,500 girls—including over 4,000 out-of-school children—for vaccination.

UNICEF young leader Rabiah Eniola Busari said the volunteers were carefully selected from their respective communities to ensure effective communication and mobilization, especially in overcoming misinformation, resistance, and cultural barriers.

“Each community has its own peculiarities,” Busari explained. “That’s why we chose volunteers who understand local customs, know how to approach market women, stakeholders, and leaders, and can build trust to mobilize girls for the vaccine.”

The volunteers will conduct school visits, town hall meetings, and digital engagement, while also leveraging radio and WhatsApp groups to spread their message. The strategy blends traditional outreach with modern communication tools to maximize reach.

Busari emphasized that local ownership of the campaign was key to its success. “When community members see familiar faces leading the cause, they are more likely to listen and participate,” she noted.

UNICEF’s Social and Behavioral Change Specialist, Mrs. Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole, reiterated the importance of targeting nine-year-olds, explaining that early vaccination is most effective before any exposure to the virus.

The campaign reflects UNICEF’s commitment to empowering youth as agents of change, using community-based volunteers to bridge gaps in health awareness and improve vaccine acceptance in underserved areas.