Ghana has taken a bold step in protecting the health and future of its girls with the launch of a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign aimed at preventing cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women.
The Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, led the launch of the National HPV Vaccination Campaign in Accra, describing it as “a historic step in women’s health” and a key part of President John Dramani Mahama’s Free Primary Health Care initiative that prioritizes prevention and equitable access to essential healthcare.
Over the next five days, the campaign will reach all 16 regions of the country with the goal of vaccinating 2.4 million girls aged 9 to 14 years. The free vaccine, Gardasil 4, approved by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has been proven safe and effective worldwide. Vaccinations will be delivered mainly through schools and community outreach programs to ensure no eligible girl is left behind.
“Each year, Ghana records nearly 3,000 new cases of cervical cancer and loses about 2,000 women. Today, we have a chance to change this story with one powerful solution, the HPV vaccine,” Hon. Akandoh said.
He added that the vaccine had previously been available only to those who could afford it but was now accessible to all girls, free of charge.
The Minister reassured parents that the vaccine is safe and urged caregivers to allow their daughters to receive it.
“This campaign is not just about a vaccine, it is about giving every Ghanaian girl a fair chance at a healthy and productive future,” he emphasized.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the Director of the Public Health Division, Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, said the campaign represents a promise to every girl in Ghana that her life and future matter.
“For over a decade, only those who could afford the HPV vaccine could get it. Today, it is free and available to every eligible girl. This is a victory for equity and prevention,” he said.
Chairing the launch, Prof. Smile Gavua Dzisi, Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, described the initiative as “a defining moment in our collective effort to safeguard the health and future of girls.”
She encouraged parents, guardians, and teachers to support the campaign and urged the media to help spread accurate information.
In a symbolic demonstration of confidence in the vaccine’s safety, the Deputy Minister of Health, Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Dankwa, publicly received the vaccine during the event in Accra.
The launch brought together representatives from the WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, USAID, CDC, PATH, civil society, faith-based and community organizations, and the media. Hon. Akandoh commended all partners for their continued collaboration in strengthening Ghana’s healthcare system.
The campaign, which runs until Sunday, October 11, marks the beginning of Ghana’s nationwide effort to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat. After the campaign, the HPV vaccine will become part of Ghana’s routine immunization schedule.
The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service are urging all parents and guardians to ensure that their daughters aged 9 to 14 years receive the vaccine to protect them from cervical cancer and help build a healthier future for Ghana.
Source: www.KumasiMail.Com/JosephZiem
