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Program Launches to Empower San Diego Parents to Protect Kids from HPV-related Cancers
Published 10/10/2018 by Global Communities
PCI and Immunotherapy Foundation to host education and prevention trainings on Oct. 10 and Oct. 17
SAN DIEGO—The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of cervical and other cancers, affecting a quarter of people living in the United States. It is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the country and while it is preventable, research by the American Cancer Society shows that less than half of teens are up to date on their HPV vaccinations.
A partnership between Project Concern International (PCI) and the Immunotherapy Foundation’s (IF) HPV project will respond to the need for HPV vaccination among the hard-to-reach and high-needs populations in City Heights and surrounding areas by conducting trainings for Community Health Workers (CHWs) and community members to educate and increase awareness about HPV and the vaccine.
Training topics will include: HPV signs, symptoms, risk factors, myth busting, and providing resources in a linguistically- and culturally-sensitive manner.
Research has shown that parental beliefs about the importance of a vaccine is a strong predictor of vaccination. Understanding how parents in City Heights see the HPV vaccines, along with the potential barriers, and responding with culturally and linguistically sensitive educational materials and programming are essential to increasing vaccine uptake among this highly-diverse population.
CHWs will refer community members who need the HPV vaccine and/or a cervical Pap smear screening in City Heights and surrounding areas to local partnering clinics that best meet the needs of the participants.
What: Community Health Worker Training on HPV Education and Prevention
When: Wednesday, Oct. 10, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 17, 9 a.m. – Noon
Where: 4305 University Avenue, Suite 345, San Diego, CA 92105
Interested reporters and media should RSVP to Natalie Svistoonoff at [email protected] or 619-791-2610 ext. 321.
About Project Concern International (PCI): PCI is a San Diego-based nonprofit and Southern California’s largest health and humanitarian organization. Our mission is to empower communities to enhance health, end hunger, overcome hardship, and advance women and girls. PCI envisions a world in which the most vulnerable people will have the power to lift themselves out of poverty and to create vital, healthy lives for their families and communities now and for the future. For more information, visit www.pciglobal.org.
About Immunotherapy Foundation: Immunotherapy Foundation (IF) is a San Diego-based public nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating HPV-related cancers by catalyzing immunotherapy research and advancing critical cancer and prevention tools. From inception, IF has strategically supported the most promising cancer immunotherapy research, working directly with world-class researchers to accelerate the discovery and development of new therapies. To comprehensively address the HPV-related cancer burden, IF has supported educational programming to reduce the incidence of these preventable cancers. For more information, visit www.joinif.org.