“I am vaccinated against HPV and I want to pass the message on”

What makes a health message truly resonate with adolescents? The answer comes from young people themselves: trust, dialogue, and the power of peer voices.

Building on this understanding, around 50 adolescent volunteers from Youth Klinic centres across the country gathered in Chișinău on 30–31 January 2026 for the participatory, behavioural science–based workshop “Youth Voices for Prevention – Information. Dialogue. Action.” The workshop aimed to actively engage young people in promoting vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV).

The workshop was organized by UNICEF, with financial support from the Government of the United Kingdom, in partnership with the “Health for Youth” Association, the National Resource Centre for Youth-Friendly Health Services “NEOVITA,” the Youth Klinic Moldova Network, and the Ministry of Health.

In December 2025, UNICEF supported the training of Youth Klinic Moldova volunteers to become change ambassadors in their communities, promoting health, prevention, and informed decision-making among their peers.

From information to action: solutions co-created with young people

Volunteers from Youth Klinic centres nationwide worked together to analyse existing barriers to HPV vaccination and to co-create messages tailored to young people their age. Participants developed concrete ideas for awareness campaigns, peer-to-peer education activities, and improvements to youth-friendly health services.

The workshop followed a participatory approach, where young people were not just recipients of information, but key actors in the change process. Activities included sessions on HPV and vaccination, barrier analysis exercises, evaluation of existing messages, and the co-creation of slogans, campaigns, and intervention ideas tailored to different audiences—adolescents, parents, and health care providers.

Working in thematic groups and stations—social media, peer education, parental engagement, and service improvement—participants developed authentic messages grounded in real-life youth experiences and their communities' needs.

The workshop "Youth Voices for Prevention – Information. Dialogue. Action” is part of a broader effort to strengthen the role of people's health and prevention ambassadors. The ideas and solutions developed during the workshop will inform future campaigns and interventions aimed at promoting HPV vaccination and preventing cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases. Through dialogue, engagement, and action, young people demonstrate that prevention works best when it is built together with them.

“I am vaccinated against HPV and I want to pass the message on”

For many participants, the workshop was more than an educational exercise—it was an experience of ownership and responsibility.

Ludmila, 17, a Youth Klinic volunteer from Nisporeni (YK Centre “Needs Protect”), shared how the workshop helped her better understand her role in HPV prevention and commit personally to protecting her generation’s health.

“I believe we have a real opportunity to make a difference for the health of girls and boys our age. I want to help ensure that accurate information about HPV vaccination reaches as many of my peers and the wider public as possible, so people can make informed decisions. If we, as young people, communicate with one another and pass these messages on, we can positively influence our communities. What I appreciated most about this workshop was the open and clear discussion about HPV and the vaccines that prevent it. I am now much more convinced of the importance of vaccination and know that, in the future, I will make this responsible choice not only for myself, but also for my future children.”

“Young people can drive change if they have the courage to speak openly. Through volunteering, we can promote HPV prevention by explaining clearly and honestly why vaccination matters for our health. When the message comes from a peer, you feel that the person truly wants to help. That is why it is so important to counter myths and fears through dialogue and real-life examples. Working as a team helped me understand that every idea matters and that there are no mistakes—only steps forward. This experience gave me the confidence to stay involved and keep going.”

“When a message comes from a peer, it is much easier to receive. When a young person shares their own experience, they are not lecturing—they are connecting. This builds trust and allows the message to reach where it needs to go more quickly. At this workshop, we received evidence-based information from specialists. I am leaving with a deeper understanding of HPV and vaccination and feel ready to pass this knowledge on. I am already vaccinated against HPV and know how important this step is for my health. That is why I want to actively promote this topic and help as many young people as possible make informed and responsible decisions.”

Valeria Floca, 20, a Youth Klinic volunteer from Strășeni (Youth Klinic Strășeni Centre)

Youth Klinic Moldova and the HPV prevention agenda

Representatives of central and local authorities, UNICEF, and project partners emphasized the importance of HPV vaccination as a key preventive measure and the essential role of adolescents in delivering public health messages at the community level.

Experts highlighted that in the Republic of Moldova, acceptance of the HPV vaccine remains low, largely due to misinformation and lack of trust. Adolescents and parents alike are particularly vulnerable to myths circulating online and within peer groups. In this context, peer education and youth involvement in message design become critical tools for prevention.

Mariana Gâncu, Head of the Directorate for Public Health Policies and Public Health Emergencies at the Ministry of Health, underlined the importance of HPV vaccination as a core prevention tool and the role of young people in supporting public health messaging at the community level.

Maha Damaj, UNICEF Representative in the Republic of Moldova, stressed the need for active adolescent engagement in information and behaviour-change processes, noting that peer education increases trust and improves young people’s access to accurate health information:

“For HPV vaccination and immunization in general, a youth-centred approach that respects families and their values is essential. Dialogue, understanding, and the active involvement of young people in co-creating solutions are the keys to lasting change.”

Galina Leșco, Head of the NEOVITA Centre and Executive President of the “Health for Youth” Association, emphasized the importance of connecting the Youth Klinic Moldova volunteer network with the national HPV prevention agenda:

“Through this initiative, the work of the national network of volunteers from youth-friendly health services is directly linked to a major public health priority—HPV prevention. This collaboration opens real opportunities to expand access to accurate information and to strengthen a safer health environment for girls and boys across the Republic of Moldova.”

Anne Johnstone, Humanitarian Interventions Adviser at the British Embassy in the Republic of Moldova, also reaffirmed international partners’ support for initiatives that strengthen prevention, health education, and the protection of younger generations.

Why HPV prevention matters

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for several types of cancer, including cervical cancer, anal cancer, and oropharyngeal cancer (affecting the mouth and throat), impacting both women and men.

In the Republic of Moldova, approximately 300 women die each year from cervical cancer—a disease that is preventable through vaccination and regular cervical screening conducted once every three years.

Administering the HPV vaccine at ages 9–14 (one dose) or 15–26 (two doses) to both girls and boys prevents infection with high-risk oncogenic strains and provides long-term protection against aggressive forms of the virus. International studies confirm that the HPV vaccine is safe. The most common discomfort associated with vaccination remains the fear of a needle, negligible compared to the very real risk of developing life-threatening cancers.

Prevention through vaccination remains one of the most effective investments in the health of future generations.