Accra: The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced the commencement of its nationwide vaccination campaign, aiming to vaccinate over 2.5 million young girls against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). In the Greater Accra Region, the campaign will span across 29 districts, targeting more than 300,000 girls aged 9 to 14 years. Vaccinations will be conducted in schools, churches, mosques, markets, and other social and economic gathering places.

According to Ghana News Agency, this initiative was revealed during a regional media engagement on the HPV vaccination campaign held in Accra. The campaign is themed, 'Protect Your Girl Child Against Cervical Cancer.' Dr. Robert Amesiya, Acting Accra Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, highlighted that administering the HPV vaccine to young girls is crucial in protecting them against the virus. A single dose of the Gardasil 4 vaccine will be given, providing lifelong protection.

Dr. Amesiya emphasized that the vaccination program is ongoing, with sufficient vaccine stocks available to avoid public anxiety. He explained that HPV primarily affects the pelvic area of women and significantly increases the risk of cervical cancer. Those with compromised immune systems are particularly susceptible to developing cervical cancer if infected with HPV.

Mrs. Eunice Joan Teah Dzagli, Regional Health Promotion Manager, mentioned that individuals who miss the school vaccination sessions can access routine centers for vaccination. This HPV vaccination effort is a collaborative campaign led by the Government of Ghana to protect young girls from cervical cancer and related infections.

The single-dose vaccine will shield girls from cancers of the vagina, vulva, anus, mouth, throat, head, and neck. The campaign's objective is to eradicate cervical cancer as a public health issue in Ghana, aligning with the World Health Organization's global strategy. Cervical cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Ghana.