Days after completing a VillageReach training on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical cancer prevention as part of the Peer-to-Peer Learning to Improve HPV Vaccine Coverage project, Verónica Chimoio was putting what she learned into practice; she already had a full schedule. We found her beneath a large, leafy tree on a hot day. In her hands were three posters and a set of illustrated materials that made her work easier, especially in an area where many people cannot read or write.
Verónica, a mother of eight living in the Chinda community of Sussundenga District, is one of the first women in her community to receive training on HPV and cervical cancer prevention. Through the training, she gained new information, practical communication tools and the confidence to speak with families about a disease that remains a serious threat to women and girls in Mozambique.
For many women, becoming a mother may feel natural. Ensuring a child’s survival after birth can be a far greater challenge across many Mozambican communities. Mozambique has made significant progress, yet the national rate remains high: The under-5 mortality rate fell 70% from 201 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1997 to 60 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022.
Every mother wants the best chance for her children’s future, and cervical cancer remains a serious threat. In Mozambique, cervical cancer is the leading cancer by new cases and deaths. These are the stakes behind efforts to increase HPV vaccination and prevent cervical cancer. Women like Verónica are stepping into the fight.
In many communities, raising large families is common. But caring for eight children brings serious pressures, especially when resources are limited. Verónica may have faced those limits, but through determination and faith, she developed the skills needed to help her children survive and thrive. This achievement earned her recognition as a “model mother,” a distinction often associated with community health educators or activists. The title reflects the positive influence and trust a local woman can have among her neighbors, using her own children as examples of good health and development.
Her role was strengthened through a VillageReach training held in May, which focused on implementing co-created interventions to increase understanding of HPV and vaccination. Those interventions were developed during ideation, prototyping, prioritization and planning workshops. Beyond lectures and PowerPoint presentations, the training included group exercises and practical communication tools, including large-format illustrated handouts and pictorial educational cards.
Potential, Put Into Practice
Verónica talking about HPV in a community water system.
For many families, vaccine decisions are made at home. Verónica felt honored to be selected by VillageReach for training that increased her knowledge. As a model mother, she is now ready to share accurate information, encourage HPV vaccination and refer people to health services when they have concerns.
Like many caregivers, she once faced doubts and fears that were compounded by community rumors. But through respectful dialogue supported by the illustrated cards she received, her mission has become easier. At the training, she realized that her questions were similar to those of other participants, including professional health workers. The course gave her confidence that she could leave prepared to help fight cervical cancer.
“I am confident and already know how to approach people in my community about HPV and cervical cancer,” she says with conviction.
We were fortunate to arrive during a period of relative food security, when families were less consumed by one of the community’s greatest concerns. Locally, this season is known as “zero hunger time,” which encouraged adolescents to attend and listen to important information about HPV.
She walked through different parts of the community, engaging people wherever she went. At the local water point, she met teenagers, women and men. Without hesitation, she explained HPV: what it is, how it spreads, how vaccination can help prevent cervical cancer, why screening matters and where people can seek care. Her journey reflects the critical role of model mothers not only as decision makers but also as trusted advocates within family and social networks.
The Fight Against Rumors
Rumors have long been part of life in the Chinda community. Yet Verónica is determined to make a difference.
“It’s not about what people believe, but about what I committed myself to do. Fortunately, I have my husband’s support. The education on HPV prevention is genuine,” she says.
She chose to serve as a model mother, explaining health issues to others in the neighborhood because she knows that neglecting health concerns can be dangerous and that trusted information can help save lives.
Throughout the lives of her children, Verónica has faced moments of doubt about health issues and public health interventions. Still, she has placed her trust in the information and services that have helped keep her children alive. Her determination and vision are timely as Mozambican authorities seek to strengthen adolescent services and encourage women to seek care at health facilities or attend mobile brigades in areas without conventional health centers.
“My plan also includes speaking at meetings, in churches and other places where many people gather,” she says. She is confident that her message will be heard in churches and other community spaces, especially when it comes from someone people know and trust.
In Verónica, Chinda has a woman determined to help save lives. Change is happening today, and with mothers like Verónica at the center, the seeds of progress can take root and grow.