The Minister for Health, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh (MP), will today officially launch Ghana’s Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign, a major public health initiative aimed at protecting girls between the ages of 9 and 14 from cervical cancer.

The campaign marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s commitment to expanding its routine childhood immunisation programme, with a particular focus on safeguarding the health and future of the girl child.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Minister Akandoh emphasised that the HPV vaccine is a proven, safe, and effective means of preventing cervical cancer — a disease that currently stands as the second most common cancer among women in Ghana.

“This initiative represents our collective determination to give every Ghanaian girl the opportunity to grow into a healthy woman, free from the threat of cervical cancer,” he said.

“Together, we stand united against cervical cancer.”

Health experts and community leaders have welcomed the rollout, noting that early vaccination offers the best protection before potential exposure to the virus.

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service and international health partners and UNICEF, will oversee the campaign’s implementation nationwide.

The launch of the HPV vaccination drive aligns with Ghana’s broader goal of achieving universal health coverage and reducing preventable diseases through immunisation.

Public health officials encourage parents and guardians to ensure that all eligible girls receive the vaccine as part of this historic effort to eliminate cervical cancer in Ghana.

The launch is ongoing at Osu Ebenezer Presbyterian Church Hall in Accra.