The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced the commencement of a nationwide vaccination campaign against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which started on Thursday, October 9, 2025 is still ongoing.
The campaign targets over 2.5 million young girls across the country.
In the Greater Accra Region alone, the campaign will cover 29 districts and reach over 300,000 girls aged 9 to 14.
Vaccinations will take place in schools, churches, mosques, markets, and other locations where people gather for social and economic activities.
This was disclosed at a regional media engagement on the HPV vaccination campaign held in Accra under the theme: “Protect Your Girl Child Against Cervical Cancer” on Wednesday.
Acting Greater Accra Regional Director of the GHS, Dr Robert Amesiya explained that the HPV vaccine will offer lifelong protection against the virus. “Now our vaccination is going to be a single-dose vaccination. So when you get it once, you will be protected for life,” he said.
He added that the Gardasil 4 vaccine will be administered as part of a continuous programme, with adequate vaccines available in stock. “It’s not a one-off thing. So people should not get anxious,” Dr Amesiya reassured.
Highlighting the severity of HPV, Dr Amesiya noted that the virus primarily affects the pelvic region of women and significantly increases the risk of cervical cancer. “The cervix is just like the doorway to the womb. If you are infected with this virus, your risk of getting cancer is very high,” he said.
He also emphasized the heightened risks for individuals with weakened immune systems. “If you are immunocompromised and infected with the human papillomavirus, you are likely to develop cervical cancer earlier than someone who isn’t.”
Regional Health Promotion Manager, Mrs Eunice Joan Teah Dzagli, encouraged the public to take advantage of the vaccination campaign. She noted that those who miss the school-based sessions can still access the vaccine at routine vaccination centres. “If you miss the school session for any reason, you can always go to the routine centres to get your child vaccinated,” she said.
The HPV vaccination campaign is a collaborative initiative led by the Government of Ghana, aiming to protect girls aged 9 to 14 from HPV infections, which can lead to cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, anus, mouth, throat, head, and neck.
This initiative aligns with the World Health Organization’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem. In Ghana, cervical cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women.
