Event highlights
The awareness-raising event was attended by trusted health-care workers active on social media; journalists who cover the Russian-speaking population of Tajikistan; and bloggers focusing on women’s health, gender and broader social issues.
It covered several topics related to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, including:
- the cervical cancer burden in Tajikistan
- current global data on the HPV vaccine’s safety, effectiveness and impact
- the HPV vaccination introduction plan for Tajikistan
- gender-related barriers to vaccination and community advocacy.
A question-and-answer session allowed attendees to direct questions to WHO experts, a local oncologist and national immunization partners.
This event, which was supported by the European Union and the Gavi Alliance, was well received by participants, many of whom subsequently shared information on social media highlighting the importance of HPV vaccination in preventing cervical cancer.
Event notice
Cervical cancer remains a public health concern in Tajikistan, ranking as the second most common cancer among women in the country. The introduction of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in Tajikistan in 2025 marks a historic milestone for women’s health, offering a unique opportunity to prevent cervical cancer and save lives.
This awareness-raising event is part of WHO’s efforts to provide accurate information, address public questions about HPV, the vaccine and cervical cancer and to build confidence in the vaccine. It brings together bloggers, health professionals, journalists, nongovernmental organizations and women’s health advocates to celebrate this milestone, share knowledge and discuss strategies for raising awareness.
The overall objective of the event is for participants to:
- engage with experts on HPV and women’s health;
- learn about the safety and effectiveness of HPV vaccination;
- discuss strategies for promoting women’s health in Tajikistan; and
- become inspired to recommend HPV vaccination through their social media platforms and networks.
This event will be followed on the same day by a training on HPV for journalists organized by UNICEF and WHO.