A total of 402 school girls aged between 9 and 14 in Pentecost Island have received cervical cancer vaccination and awareness support over the past five weeks, although organisers say the campaign continues to face significant challenges.

The outreach program was conducted across 19 schools by the Ikana Cancer Foundation in partnership with health teams, as part of efforts to increase awareness of cervical cancer in rural communities.

Cervical cancer awareness advocate Max Albert said while the program has reached many students, there are ongoing challenges in changing perceptions around the disease.

“There are still many people who believe in traditional medicine and treatments. Even though we know cancer is a serious disease that affects many people, awareness is still not fully understood in some communities. Some people do not take it seriously. We are not forcing anyone, but we are concerned that without awareness, people will not understand how to prevent cancer or where to seek proper treatment. In some areas the response has been good, but in Central Pentecost the outcome has been lower compared to the north.”

He said misinformation, including beliefs strengthened after COVID-19, has also made awareness work more difficult in some areas.

“COVID-19 created fear and affected trust in health messages. This has made it harder to conduct awareness in schools. With my 10 years of experience, I have seen the impact of cervical cancer, including young women who have suffered and passed away. This is why awareness is very important.”

Mr Albert added that some sessions required several hours of explanation to help students better understand cervical cancer, prevention, and available treatment options.

A local resident in Pentecost, who asked not to be named, said cervical cancer awareness is still new in some communities, and cultural attitudes can sometimes limit open discussion about women’s health.

The outreach covered schools including Lini Memorial College, Loltong in North Pentecost, schools in Central Pentecost 1 (Bwatnapni), and Central Pentecost 2.

Health teams say they will continue working to address these challenges through ongoing education and community engagement, with the aim of improving early detection and prevention of cervical cancer across Vanuatu.

Photo credits: Ikana Cancer Foundation