By Jones Anlimah
Ghana has intensified advocacy on the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, with health experts, traditional leaders, policymakers, and civil society actors uniting to encourage parents and guardians to protect young girls from cervical cancer.
The nationwide campaign, spearheaded by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in collaboration with international partners, emphasizes the urgent need to vaccinate girls aged 9 to 14 years. The HPV vaccine is globally recognized as a safe and effective shield against cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women.
Medical professionals, including Dr. Hawa Malechi, Dr. Williams Aduwa, and Dr. Selorm Kutsotsi, have strongly advocated that vaccination remains the most effective preventive measure. “Cervical cancer is a killer. Protect your girl child. Get her vaccinated with the HPV vaccine from age 9-14 years,” Dr. Kutsotsi stated.
Public health practitioners and educators have equally amplified the call. For instance, Dr. Abena Yeboah described the HPV vaccine as “a life-saving gift,” while peer educator Abigail Nandola urged parents not to wait, stressing that early vaccination safeguards the health of young girls.
Beyond the medical field, prominent personalities and traditional leaders have also added their voices. The Queen Mother of Vui, Mama Dzidzor II, has called on women to use their influence to educate girls about HPV vaccination, while actor and politician John Setor Dumelo described the initiative as a way of ensuring that “no woman fears this disease.”
The advocacy campaign resonates with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3, which seeks to ensure good health and well-being, and Goal 5, aimed at achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls. Cervical cancer, which largely affects women in their prime reproductive years, threatens progress in these areas if not addressed through preventive measures such as vaccination.
According to the Ghana Health Service, the national HPV vaccination campaign is scheduled to run from 7th to 11th October 2025. It targets millions of girls across the country, reinforcing the government’s commitment to safeguarding women’s health as part of broader strategies to reduce maternal mortality and advance universal health coverage.
Advocates stress that the HPV vaccine is not just a medical intervention but a social investment in the future of Ghanaian girls. By preventing cervical cancer, families are spared the financial and emotional burden of treatment, while communities benefit from healthier and more productive women.
The nationwide mobilization thus serves as a powerful reminder that preventing cervical cancer is a shared responsibility as the campaign message highlights, “Protect their future: vaccinate young girls against HPV to prevent cervical cancer.”
