by Marie Kauna – EMTV Online, Port Moresby
The Papua New Guinea Cancer Foundation in partnership with the PNG Cancer Relief Society conducted a two day workshop in Lae, Morobe Province.
The workshop ‘Healthy Teens School Program’ was conducted in Bubia Lutheran Primary on the 4th and Christ the King School on the 5th of April.
Morobe is the first province to see the ‘Healthy Teens School Program’.
Day one of the workshop was conducted in Bubia Lutheran Primary by PNGCF Health Educator, Jacob Oburi.
The workshop focused on healthy lifestyle choices.
The opportunity provided education tips to help encourage the young teens on the importance of making lifesaving choices that will avoid the risks of getting cancer.
A total of over 1400 students in grades 6, 7 and 8 from both schools attended the workshop.
At the end of the workshop, participating students were given HTSP school packs with awareness messages.
The turn out was very impressive as more teens participated in the workshop.
Following the first workshop, the second day workshop was conducted in the Catholic Church for Christ the King community.
This session was conducted by PNGCF Health Educator, Lois Booker.
600 individuals from the community engaged in the workshop. The awareness topics included;
- What cervical and breast cancer are
- How to recognise early signs and symptoms and
- How to reduce risks of developing cancer
Participants were given cancer education and awareness messages in the form of educational brochures, posters and school packs.
With access and high illiteracy rate barriers, this opportunity will help many of the participants equip them with vital information.
From what was witnessed, the two day workshop was successful.
This is the first HTSP program for 2017 and will continue to reach out to many schools and communities throughout the country.
The program was supported by ExxonMobil, Oil Search, Moore Printing, Kumul Petroleum Limited and Kumul Consolidated Holdings.
Image and information source: PNG Cancer Foundation
