Addressing a media engagement in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional Director of Health Service, Dr Briamah Baba Abubakari, in a statement read on his behalf, described the campaign as “a significant public health intervention and a major investment in the future health of our girls, our families and our communities.”

Campaign strategy

According to the Director, the HPV vaccination campaign will adopt a multi-age cohort strategy, targeting all girls between nine and 14 years and after the initial campaign, the vaccine will be introduced into routine immunisation for nine-year-olds, while older girls (10–14) will be covered through catch-up programmes.

He said most of the vaccines would be administered in schools, but health facilities will serve as static vaccination points for out-of-school girls.

Outreach posts will also be used to reach apprentices and others outside the classroom.

“In the Upper East Region, we are targeting 93,805 girls, representing about 6.6 per cent of the population.

About 90 per cent of these girls are in school, while the remaining 10 per cent are in communities learning trades or other activities. We will find them all. The target is 100 per cent coverage,” Dr Abubakari emphasised.

Myths and concerns

The regional director dismissed myths linking the HPV vaccination to fertility issues and family planning, insisting the vaccine was purely for disease prevention.

“The public health system is not going to sterilise our population.

This vaccine prevents a virus; it has nothing to do with hormones or family planning,” he assured.

He acknowledged that some recipients might experience mild, short-lived reactions such as fever, headache or pain at the injection site.

“These are natural responses as the body produces antibodies,” he explained, adding that all adverse effects would be closely monitored and followed up.

Dr Abubakari emphasised the importance of vaccinating girls before they are exposed to HPV through sexual activity.

“We actually want to vaccinate them before they are introduced to sexual intercourse.

When given early, a single dose gives full lifetime protection,” he said.

He explained that those above 15 years or already exposed to HPV may require more doses, and vaccines are available in private pharmacies, though at a higher cost.

Cervical cancer threat

He said cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in Ghana, and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, emphasising that "Globally, about 600,000 new cases are diagnosed annually, with more than 300,000 deaths.

In Ghana, nearly 2,800 new cases and 1,700 deaths were recorded in 2020".

Dr Abubakari cautioned that about 70 per cent of women in Ghana have been diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease, when survival rates are very low.

“HPV is the necessary cause of cervical cancer.

High-risk types, especially HPV 16 and 18, account for about 70 per cent of all cervical cancers,” he said.

He, therefore, appealed to parents and guardians to ensure that their daughters take advantage of the free vaccination, and urged teachers, religious leaders and community stakeholders to mobilise support for the campaign.

He also called on the media to play a critical role by amplifying accurate information, countering misinformation, and publicising vaccination sites and schedules.

“By giving our girls this protection, we are giving them a healthier, brighter future.

Together, with the power of partnership and the voice of the media, we can make cervical cancer a disease of the past,” he added.