VACCINATION: AN ACT AGAINST HPV – AWARENESS CAMPAIGN THROUGH IFMSA BRAZIL AT BELÉM, PARÁ

Introduction and Objective: HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI). It can cause genital warts as well as cervical cancers and others. The northern Brazil has the most prevalence of cervical cancer; it is also the area with the highest rate of death from this disease. Thus, vaccination against HPV is extremely important for preventing them. However, immunization does not replace the realization of Pap smear and the use of condoms during sexual relations. Therefore, the action "Vaccination: An act against HPV'' aimed to educate the local population about the importance of prevention, with emphasis on vaccination against the most serious types of human papillomavirus. Method: a descriptive report kind study was conducted about the awareness campaign "Vaccination: An act against HPV", held on September 27th, 2015, at Praça da República in Belém, Pará, consisted on approaching the population through dynamic, distribution of information pamphlets and discussion about HPV. Results and Conclusions: The campaign was a combat tool to the development of Cervical Cancer in our region. Every approached person showed interest, with rare exceptions. There were people who had never heard about the virus and questioned the lack of knowledge dissemination about it. At the end of the experiences shared among participants were enriching, we concluded that the dissemination of this knowledge to the public is of utmost importance since many do not have access to such information. Therefore, it is valid planning new projects that address this issue, to better educate people about it.