Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has launched the National Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign, marking what he described as “a historic milestone in women’s health” and a vital component of President John Mahama’s Free Primary Health Care initiative.
The five-day nationwide campaign, which began on Wednesday, October 8, aims to vaccinate 2.4 million girls aged 9 to 14 years across all 16 regions against HPV—the virus responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.
“Every year, Ghana records nearly 3,000 new cases of cervical cancer and loses about 2,000 women to the disease. Today, we have the opportunity to change this story with one powerful solution—the HPV vaccine,” Mr. Akandoh said.
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He announced that Ghana will be using the Gardasil 4 vaccine, which has been approved by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The vaccine will be provided free of charge and administered primarily through schools and community outreach programmes to ensure all eligible girls are reached.
The Health Minister assured parents and guardians of the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness, urging them to disregard myths and misinformation surrounding it.
He further explained that the nationwide rollout follows successful pilot programmes and will be incorporated into Ghana’s routine immunization schedule after the campaign.
Delivering a message on behalf of the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, a representative emphasized that the initiative is a major step toward health equity.
“For over a decade, only those who could afford the HPV vaccine could access it. Today, it is free and available to every eligible girl. This is a victory for equity and prevention,” the message stated.
The HPV vaccination campaign is expected to play a crucial role in reducing cervical cancer cases and advancing Ghana’s broader goal of ensuring universal access to preventive healthcare.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem