Vientiane, Laos – The Lao Front for National Development (LFND) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) convened a national media briefing in Bolikhamxay province on December 3rd to galvanize media support for the ongoing nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign.

The Lao government, with the support of The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Australian Government, introduced the HPV vaccine into its immunization program in 2020. This year, the country launched a nationwide school-based HPV vaccination campaign targeting girls aged 10, as well as girls aged 11 to 13 who have not been previously vaccinated.

Yiageryang Norjorthor, Vice President of the LFND, highlighted the organization's crucial role in raising awareness and mobilizing communities to combat cervical cancer. "The LFND must educate communities about the causes and dangers of cervical cancer and encourage them to get vaccinated," Norjorthor said.

The briefing also addressed the pressing issue of child marriage in Laos. Simon Nazer, Chief of Communication and Advocacy at UNICEF Laos, emphasized the LFND's potential to mobilize communities and change attitudes towards this harmful practice.

"Child marriage limits the potential of girls and hinders national development," Nazer stated. "The LFND, with its extensive media network and community presence, can play a significant role in ending child marriage in Laos."

Laos has the highest rate of child marriage in Southeast Asia, with 30.5% of adolescent girls marrying before the age of 18. This problem is particularly prevalent among marginalized communities, including those with limited access to education, ethnolinguistic groups, and the poorest populations.

To further address the issue of child marriage, UNICEF will host another briefing session with media outlets under the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism to discuss the latest situation and the role of mass media in ending this harmful practice.