By Francis Abedi
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) has engaged civil society organizations (CSOs) in Kumasi in preparation for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign scheduled for next month.
The campaign aims to vaccinate about 2.5 million girls aged nine to 14 years against cervical cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Ghana.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Ghana. Each year, the country records more than 2,800 new cases. Despite being one of the most preventable forms of female cancer, efforts towards cervical cancer control are hindered by a lack of knowledge about the disease, its risk factors, poor access to preventive services such as vaccination, and the cost of these services.
It is in this regard that Ghana has joined over 140 countries in introducing the HPV vaccine to protect young girls and women from cervical cancer. The vaccine will be added to the country’s routine national immunisation programme, administered to girls aged nine to 14, and will be provided at no cost to recipients.
Ghana is set to introduce the HPV vaccine nationwide in September this year by vaccinating girls aged nine to 14. The country first introduced the HPV vaccine in 2013 through a pilot programme in the Greater Accra, Central, and Northern regions. After 12 years of implementation in those areas, the Ghana Health Service believes the country is now ready to extend it to all regions.
To ensure a successful national rollout and strengthen public education on the exercise, Unicef Ghana has engaged CSOs in Kumasi.
The Social Behaviour Change Specialist at Unicef Ghana, Madam Charity Nikoi, said the engagement with CSOs is crucial in addressing misinformation and building trust within communities ahead of the exercise.
“We chose to engage the CSOs because they play a key role when it comes to disseminating information and combating misinformation, as they are very connected to the communities. They will help us further educate people about the vaccines,” she said.
The National President of Muslim Women in Teaching Ghana, Hajia Amina Deen Ibrahim, urged parents to make their children available for the vaccination and not to attach religious beliefs to the exercise.
“I appeal to our Muslim leaders and parents that when it’s time for the vaccines to begin, they should allow their children to take it because it is for their good, and not attach religious beliefs to it,” she said.
The HPV vaccination campaign is expected to significantly reduce cervical cancer cases among young girls in Ghana.
