.
In a historic move for women's healthcare, Ghana is targeting 2.4 million girls for HPV vaccination. The five-day national campaign, launched by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh on October 8, will roll out across all 16 regions. The Minister described the effort to combat the leading cause of cervical cancer as a cornerstone of the government's Free Primary Health Care initiative.
“Each year, Ghana records nearly 3,000 new cases of cervical cancer and loses about 2,000 women. Today, we have a chance to change this story with one powerful solution, the HPV vaccine,” Mr Akandoh said. He explained that Ghana is introducing the Gardasil 4 vaccine, approved by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
To guarantee no girl is left behind, the government is administering the free vaccine via a dual approach: through schools and widespread community outreach. Officials firmly backed the program's integrity, with the Minister personally vouching for the vaccine's safety and effectiveness to alleviate public concerns.
Building on successful pilot programs, the nationwide rollout will transition into a permanent part of Ghana's routine immunization schedule. The initiative was also hailed as a major advance for healthcare equality. In a statement on behalf of the Ghana Health Service Director-General, Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea emphasized, "For over a decade, only those who could afford the HPV vaccine could get it. Today, it is free for every eligible girl. This is a victory for equity and prevention." Echoing this sentiment, the event's chair, Prof. Smile Gavua Dzisi, characterized the campaign as "a defining moment in Ghana’s commitment to safeguard the health and future of girls."
The Health Minister expressed appreciation to partners, including the WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, USAID, CDC, PATH, health workers, and the media, for their continued support in making the program possible. The campaign runs until Sunday, October 11, and the Ministry of Health is urging all parents and guardians to ensure that their daughters between 9 and 14 years old receive the free HPV vaccine to protect them against cervical cancer.
