Takoradi: The Western Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) is set to vaccinate more than 148,000 young girls against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in the region.
According to Ghana News Agency, the vaccination exercise is scheduled from Tuesday, October 7 to Sunday, October 12, 2025, targeting young girls between the ages of nine and 14. Dr. Gifty Amugi, the Western Regional Deputy Director for Public Health, informed journalists at a media engagement in Takoradi that HPV infection is common among teenage girls and is the second leading cause of cancer, particularly cervical cancer and its related deaths in women.
Dr. Amugi emphasized that the risk factor for HPV is sexual activities, highlighting the importance of vaccinating young girls before their first sexual intercourse to protect them from contracting the virus. She stated, 'We are undertaking this exercise from October 7 and the main objective is to prevent cervical cancer and pre-cancerous lesions caused by HPV in young girls aged nine to 14.'
As part of the vaccination strategies, Dr. Amugi noted that health professionals would target both in-school and out-of-school girls through various outreaches, including visits to churches, mosques, and other strategic locations to administer a single dose. She encouraged parents to ensure their young girls receive the vaccine, asserting its safety and effectiveness in providing protection against cervical cancer.
Dr. Amugi further explained that cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer in women in Ghana, and it is preventable through HPV vaccination. She urged parents to allow their daughters to receive the vaccine, which is offered free of charge, stating, 'The HPV vaccine is most effective if administered before adolescents are sexually active, so we are encouraging parents to avail their young girls to take up the vaccine because it is safe and given free of charge.'
She reassured that all HPV vaccines have undergone rigorous studies by medical and scientific experts to ensure their safety and efficacy. Dr. Amugi added that the World Health Organization (WHO) is continually reviewing scientific evidence on the safety of HPV vaccines, and no safety issues have been identified. The vaccine has been used successfully in other countries for the past 20 years and in Ghana during pilot programs.