In September 2025, Ghana plans to roll out the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine across the country, aiming to prevent cervical cancer in women by immunizing girls between the ages of 9 and 14.
The Service engaged key education sector partners in a stakeholder engagement to guarantee a successful deployment. The Service’s Director-General, Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, stressed in his speech the campaign’s national significance and the necessity of teamwork in preserving the health of young Ghanaian girls.
The HPV vaccine was initially made available in Ghana in 2013 in the Greater Accra, Central, and Northern areas, he said, under close observation for any adverse effects.
The nation is now prepared to extend the deployment nationwide in order to safeguard the next generation of women, he added, following 12 years of successful implementation in these locations.
He also reassured the people that the vaccine is safe, saying, “HPV vaccines are safe and well-tolerated. Our Food and Drugs Authority has done its due diligence, and today, Ghana joins 144 WHO member states in implementing this bold step to safeguard our girls,” he said.
Prof. Akoriyea went on to say that the government is offering the intervention to recipients at no cost and that it will be a part of Ghana’s regular national immunization campaign.
Dr. Manuel Dewez, Chief of Health and Nutrition for UNICEF Ghana, endorsed the effort, stating that he was confident Ghana was prepared and that the nation had received its first shipment of HPV vaccines, with another 2.5 million doses anticipated in the months to come.
The organization emphasized the need for cross-sectoral cooperation and urged ongoing coordination to get over financial and logistical obstacles.
Deputy Programme Manager Dr. Nazir Tanko Mohammed gave a technical review on behalf of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, stating that cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Ghana, with over 2,800 new cases reported annually.
He stated that the vaccine campaign will be conducted via community outreach and school-based methods, and it will adhere to a single-dose schedule.
He went on to say that this strategy is based on effective worldwide data and is anticipated to reach more than 2.5 million girls nationwide.
There was a strong request for action from all sectors at the end of the stakeholder engagement.
By raising awareness, preregistering eligible girls, and fostering vaccination-friendly environments, the Service urged educators, medical professionals, caregivers, and the media to assist the initiative.
Source: newsthemegh.com