On each table in the classroom, two small paper cards are placed. One green and one red. For true or false. For an hour, class by class, the second students of the Carnot high school in Cannes discussed a questionnaire on the most widespread sexually transmitted infection in the world: the papillomavirus (HPV). How is it transmitted? Is there a treatment? Are there any visible symptoms? Organized for several months by the professional territorial health community (CPTS) “Pays de Lérins” (read below) in the establishments of Cannes and Le Cannet, these workshops aim to raise awareness among adolescents about HPV vaccination. Remember that contamination by this virus can occur from adolescence with the first intimate contacts. Vaccination prevents up to 90% of cancer-causing HPV infections. Unfortunately, in France, the vaccination coverage of young people is slipping in a very worrying way.
That morning, Nadège Durand, midwife, and Adrien Kuntzmann, general practitioner, raised awareness among four second-grade classes at Lycée Carnot. The opportunity to debunk the ideas received around the virus. And this, from the first question. “ The papillomavirus can infect men and women? “, asks Nadège Durand, midwife. Hesitation can be read on the faces and some shrug their shoulders, a sign that they are not sure of the answer. “ In fact, anyone who is sexually active, male or female, can catch the virus…”, informs Adrien Kuntzmann. Surprise and whispers in the class.
Definition, treatments, mode of transmission (read below)… questions related to HPV give students a hard time. “By the way, who is vaccinated against HPV in the class? “, ask the two speakers at the end of the intervention. Silence and hesitation. “ I had vaguely heard of this virus, but I never talked about vaccination with my mother…”, recognizes Ylian. When leaving the room, Hugo and Kenny confide in having discovered the existence of this virus thanks to this intervention. “I didn’t think he could touch the boys at all…”, one exclaims. “And even less that it could give cancer!”, adds the other. Since May, the CPTS “Pays de Lérins” has organized seven interventions between the high schools of Cannes and Le Cannet. The start of a prevention mission which is proving essential.