“The mortality rate for cervical cancer was high. We had about 3,000 cases in 2024, but about 2,500 of them have died. This is because by the time we diagnose or find them out, it is too late, and there’s nothing we can do,” she said.

She expressed optimism that the government’s introduction of the free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme for children aged 9 to 14 would help reduce future cases of the disease.

Dr. Ayensu-Danquah noted that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, is intensifying public education and screening efforts to promote early detection and prevention of cervical cancer.

Health experts have long warned that cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Ghana, despite being largely preventable through vaccination and regular screening.

The government’s rollout of the free HPV vaccine marks a significant step in protecting young girls from the virus that causes most cervical cancer cases, as health authorities continue efforts to curb the rising toll of the disease.