By Frank Kwame Abbor, GNA
Ho, Oct. 9, GNA – The Ho Municipal Health Directorate is targeting 2,370 girls aged between nine and 14 years for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, as part of efforts to prevent cervical cancer.
Madam Irene Agbemesh, and Madam Millicent Obeng, Health Promotion Officers at the Ho Municipal Health Directorate, said the vaccination exercise was ongoing in private schools, while the team awaited the resumption of public-school activities to extend the campaign to those institutions.
They said the vaccination was intended to protect girls against HPV, the virus responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.
Madam Agbemesh explained that cervical cancer affected the cervix, which was the lower part of the uterus that opened into the vagina and was commonly associated with persistent infection with high-risk types of HPV.
She said HPV was mainly transmitted through intimate sexual contact, making vaccination before exposure to the virus an important preventive measure.
Madam Obeng said the Directorate had been visiting private schools in the municipality since the previous week to vaccinate eligible girls.
She said the HPV vaccine had been incorporated into routine immunisation services and was available free for eligible girls at health facilities.
She advised parents saying: “When the child attains nine years, send her to any Child Welfare Clinic, health centre or hospital. The vaccines are available for free.”
Madam Obeng said the ongoing school-based exercise was focusing on private schools because public schools were not yet operating normally amid the strike affecting their activities.
She, however, said the Directorate was yet to meet its target of vaccinating 2,370 girls in the municipality and called for increased cooperation from parents, schools and other stakeholders.
The health promotion officers urged parents and guardians to ensure that eligible girls received the vaccine, stressing that prevention was essential in reducing the future burden of cervical cancer.
They also encouraged the public to seek accurate information from health professionals about HPV infection, vaccination and cervical cancer prevention.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo
09 Oct. 2026