By Alex Baah Boadi
Sefwi-Wiawso (WN/R), Sept. 02, GNA – The Western North Regional Health Directorate, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), has held a stakeholder engagement on the rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme in the Region.
The meeting formed part of preparatory activities towards the successful implementation of the HPV vaccination, which seeks to protect adolescent girls against cervical cancer and improve adolescent health outcomes.
It also provided a platform to share key information, clarify roles and responsibilities, and strengthen coordination among stakeholders at the regional and district levels.
The engagement brought together religious leaders, representatives from the Ghana Education Service (GES), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the media, market women, and other groups.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Dr. Kingsley Osei Kwakye, Deputy Director of Public Health, said cervical cancer was the second most common cancer among Ghanaian women, causing over 1,700 deaths annually.
He explained that prevalence in West Africa was estimated at 4.3 percent, while in sub-Saharan Africa it stood at about 24 percent, with HPV responsible for nearly all cervical cancer cases. This, he noted, was a national concern requiring collective action to protect girls.
Dr. Kwakye listed persistent pelvic pain during intercourse, bone fractures, fatigue, abnormal vaginal bleeding, and painful urination as some of the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer.
He stressed that HPV vaccines could prevent up to 90 percent of cervical cancer cases and were recommended for girls aged nine to 14 years. He urged traditional and religious leaders to use their platforms to educate members, and to publicly endorse the programme.
The Deputy Director also called on the media to intensify public education, saying, “Together, we can protect girls and build a healthier future.”
Nana Yaa Mansowaa, Queen Mother of Kessekrom, speaking on behalf of participants, commended the engagement, describing it as timely. She encouraged stakeholders to use their institutions and offices to educate the public on the importance of the vaccine to help fight cervical cancer.
GNA
Edited by Justina Paaga/Audrey Dekalu