UFCH SH HPV Cervical Cancer Education & Vaccination Initiative

In September, the HPV Cervical Cancer Education & Vaccination Initiative, initiated by the United Foundation for China’s Health (UFCH), with the support of United Family Healthcare, facilitated the participation of 93 women from low-income groups and engaged in charitable work in Shanghai. These women received the first dose of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine at three different locations within Shanghai in September and October. Over the subsequent six-month period, the remaining doses of the vaccine will be administered.

 

 

For many years, UFCH has been deeply concerned about the health conditions of disadvantaged and low-income working women. In light of this concern, the organization has made a firm commitment to contribute to the “Action Plan for Accelerating the Elimination of Cervical Cancer.” To this end, UFCH is actively engaged in promoting the three-level prevention of cervical cancer. This approach encompasses three key strategies: primary prevention, which includes the use of vaccines and the dissemination of health education; secondary prevention, which encompasses screening; and tertiary prevention, which encompasses treatment and rehabilitation. The advent of the Internet economy has given rise to a new category of workers, the “Three New” employment groups, which includes couriers. This group is significant in terms of its scale, with individuals traversing urban areas to deliver goods and services, thereby enhancing convenience for consumers. However, the nature of this work, which involves high levels of mobility and a dispersed workforce, presents unique challenges in terms of health management.

 

 

Among the female population, there is a notable lack of awareness regarding cervical cancer prevention and treatment. Furthermore, the participation rate in active screening is relatively low, which has resulted in this demographic becoming a new “hard-to-reach” group within the “Three New” employment categories. Compared to women who regularly participate in screening, this demographic has a significantly elevated risk of developing cervical cancer.

 

Since 2022, while providing medical assistance to women in remote areas, UFCH has expanded the scope of its assistance to include grassroots female groups working in cities. This has involved the implementation of a series of charity activities, including the provision of HPV vaccinations, the dissemination of knowledge, the organisation of screenings and the delivery of treatment in locations such as Beijing and Shanghai.

 

                                                           Previous charity vaccination event

 

 

In the future, UFCH will pursue a strategy of active expansion, extending the scale and scope of its charity programs and forging new alliances with communities and partners. The organization is committed to the development of a comprehensive health infrastructure that will provide disadvantaged and grassroots working women with enhanced protection from the dual risks of cervical cancer and poverty due to illness.

 

 

 

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