When teachers share knowledge with children that goes beyond what is normally found in textbooks and curriculum, the impact can be profound. In Sussundenga and Vanduzi districts in Mozambique’s Manica Province, VillageReach is leading the fight against human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes most cases of cervical cancer in women. Here, teachers are using educational materials to help pupils understand key messages about HPV to support healthier behaviors and increase vaccination rates.
Celestina Armando, a teacher at Quinta das Laranjeiras Secondary School, is one of those who now includes topics on HPV and cervical cancer in her lesson plans. And she is already making a difference: “Since I began addressing HPV, I have received questions about the virus and the disease that clearly show the children understand they need to protect themselves. One student stopped me after class and asked: teacher, how can I know if the pain I feel is related to cervical cancer or not? My answer was: you are only 10 years old, cervical cancer is extremely rare at your age. Then I explained in detail. That makes me happy,” she shared.
Celestina (front left) during a workshop exercise
The Peer-to-Peer Learning to Improve HPV Vaccine Coverage project helps strengthen HPV vaccine delivery in Nigeria and Mozambique by equipping health workers with practical skills, peer mentorship and collaborative problem-solving approaches. Through learning exchanges, digital training and community engagement, the initiative aims to improve vaccine uptake among adolescent girls.
When BCL and VillageReach launched the project, Celestina was eager to take part. As both a dedicated teacher and a mother of two, she understood the importance of educating children about the risks of cervical cancer and the value of vaccination. When training on HPV education and mobilization strategies became available alongside other professionals and community leaders, Celestina made sure she attended.
Informing for Change
Challenges in the classroom are many. In Celestina’s school, an average class has about 60 students, making it difficult to hold the attention of every child. But now she has a strategy: during the VillageReach training, she received colorful pictorial cards, large format posters and FAQ leaflets, which help her visually explain complex HPV-related information, retain focus and make it easier for the children to understand.
“I graduated in 2014 because teaching is my vocation. But this training on topics beyond the formal concepts in textbooks changed my perspective. Today, I feel my impact on children and communities is immediate,” she explained with firm conviction.
Celestina previously knew very little about HPV or cervical cancer. Today, her focus is on transmitting knowledge and ensuring that every child in her classroom learns about HPV and cervical cancer. She even organizes talks outside the classroom, during breaks, to reach more students.
The Power of Teachers
Students during a session on HPV
Traditional immunization campaign activities alone are not enough to provide accurate information about HPV vaccination and cervical cancer across whole communities. Many of those most likely to be affected by HPV are students, and their families also need this knowledge. That is why VillageReach invited teachers and other community actors to join local health teams in co-creation workshops where they designed solutions to improve HPV vaccination in their communities.
Celestina received training materials such as posters, leaflets and illustrated booklets. These materials, combining text and images, simplify understanding—and when combined with guidance on delivering the messages, form a well-designed Information, Education and Communication (IEC) strategy for hard-to-reach communities.
Vanduzi, and Manica Province more broadly, is marked by myths about vaccines. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some community members believed vaccines were meant to kill people. Today, some believe that if a girl is vaccinated against cervical cancer, she will not be able to conceive later in life. Because of this myth, many men discourage their wives from getting vaccinated.
“When information comes from me as a teacher, communities respect it. That’s why I see my role as a huge window of hope to save lives,” Celestina said.
Fear Overcome
Children can be afraid to go to hospitals, fearing vaccines and treatments. Celestina believes that talking about health in schools will have a ripple effect in communities, as children will carry the information home: “I believe schools will awaken children’s minds. With these projects and talks, they will open up more about HPV and other health issues.”
During her training, she interacted with “model mothers”, health workers and other participants, realizing that all would benefit from further capacity building. She suggests periodic refresher trainings for the groups involved.
For now, Celestina is a satisfied teacher. The first step has been taken, and she is encouraged by the progress made so far. Each day she returns to her work with a clear sense of purpose: to teach and to change lives. What once seemed unimaginable is now her reality—through her vocation as a teacher, she is also supporting health education in schools, impacting the health and wellbeing of her students and community.