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Game On for Girls’ Health! Novelty Match Boosts HPV Awareness in Ondo State

Raising HPV Awareness Through Sports

On World Cancer Day, Kids & Teens Resource Centre (K&TRC) partnered with Girl Effect Nigeria to spread a crucial message: HPV vaccination can help prevent cervical cancer! To engage young people, we organized a novelty football match between Muslim High School Ore and Ore Community High School in Ondo State.

 

Pre-Match HPV Awareness

 

Before the match, K&TRC CEO Martin-Mary Falana met with Muslim High School’s Principal, Mr. Malam Yusuf. He emphasized the importance of the HPV vaccine for young girls and praised the Ondo State Government for making it available at health centres. He also expressed K&TRC’s commitment to ongoing collaboration with the school.

Educating Players on HPV Prevention

After the National Anthem, Mr. Falana gathered the players and used the moment t

 

o explain why HPV vaccination is vital. He described cervical cancer as a serious health threat affecting the cervix, a crucial part of a woman’s reproductive system. Shockingly, when he ask

 

ed if any players had been vaccinated, none had. This made his message even more urgent. He encouraged them to get vaccinated and spread the word to their families and friends.

The Match and Its Impact

With that, he kicked off the match! Muslim High School scored the first goal in the 30th minute of play. The second half remained competitive, with both teams showing great energy. After the final whistle, Mr. Falana presented certificates and jerseys to both teams, recognizing their participation in this meaningful event.

 

 

Spreading the HPV Message Beyond the Field

The awareness campaign didn’t stop at the match. Mr. Falana addressed the entire school, stressing that the HPV vaccine is available at nearby health centres, including Ore Primary Healthcare Center in Panapana. He urged the students to take advantage of this free opportunity to protect their future health.

Principal Malam Yusuf expressed gratitude and looked forward

 

to future collaborations. This initiative was a fun yet impactful way to spread awareness about cervical cancer prevention. By merging sports with health education, K&TRC and Girl Effect hope to encourage more young girls in Ondo State to get vaccinated and safeguard their health.

Students at the HPV awareness football match hold signs reading 'HPV Vaccination Is Safe' to promote cervical cancer prevention in Ondo State.

Written by Dolapo Akinkuolie,
Kids & Teens NGO Volunteer

Read more about our partnership with Girl Effect here

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