The authorities at the Savannah Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) have prioritised the Human Papillomavirus HPV vaccines for girls between the ages of 9 and 14 across all seven districts in the region.
According to the Directorate, the HPV vaccines remain a safe and effective way to prevent infection responsible for most cases of cervical cancer; hence the need for girls within the targeted age groups to be vaccinated for protection before they are exposed to the Virus.
The Directorate examined this during a press briefing in Damongo for the Media to intensify awareness levels among stakeholders for the success of the programme in the region.
Initially, the region’s campaign targeted 48,835 eligible girls but was able to reach out to 42,167 girls, leaving behind a deficit of 6,668 girls unprotected from the Virus.
But the Directorate is, however, hopeful that the October 19th to 23rd, 2026 exercise will address the situation.
They said the HPV disease is among the leading causes of cancer-related illness and death among women, and needs to be addressed holistically in the region and country at large.
“And so, Vaccinating girls before they are exposed to the Virus provides the greatest protection, and that’s why GHS prioritises HPV.” Dr John Ekow Otoo stated.
The Regional Director maintained that the HPV vaccine provides “An important opportunity to prevent HPV-related cancers, particularly cervical cancer, and to safeguard the health and future of our girls.”
He also explained that the success of the intervention depends not only on the availability of the vaccines but also on the public awareness, community acceptance, and parents’ and guardians’ willingness to ensure that eligible girls are vaccinated.
The Health Director particularly appealed to the Media to intensify public education, community mobilisation, combat misinformation, and encourage informed decisions, among others, for a fruitful immunisation.
He said the Directorate remains committed to improving immunisation coverage to ensure that no eligible girl is left behind.
The Virus, according to the Directorate, is a common Virus transmitted primarily inti. through skin-to-skin contact, including sexual intercourse, and most sexually active individuals will acquire HPV at some point in their lives, often without symptoms.
Ghana faces a significant burden of cervical cancer, with approximately 3000 new cases and 2,000 deaths reported each year.
This burden, according to GHS, is compounded by limited public awareness and inadequate knowledge of the disease and its causes, the cost of preventive interventions, limited access to HPV screening services, and the stigma associated with reproductive health conditions, among others.