By Dennis Peprah, GNA
Sunyani, (Bono), Oct. 19, GNA-The Bono Regional Directorate of Health has commenced the second round of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) immunization campaign, targeting to immunize 9,196 girls between nine years and 14 years across the region.
The directorate in collaboration with Ghana Education Service (GES) and other stakeholders is undertaking the free immunization exercise from Monday October 19 to Friday October 23, 2026 and to protect girls against cervical cancers.
Dr Abdulai Abukari, the Bono Regional Director of Health said the campaign was using both school-based and community-based strategies to reach the eligible children, whether in or out of school in all 12 politically administrative Districts and Municipalities.
Addressing a news conference in Sunyani, Dr Abukari explained that the first round of the immunization was conducted between January and August this year, saying that about 8,497 doses of the vaccines were administered to some eligible girls, representing 63.5 percent of the region’s annual target.
Describing the coverage as fair, he said that reflected growing trust in the vaccine and in the health system among parents, guardians, school authorities and community leaders.
He noted that vaccination continued to remain one of the greatest public health achievements of humanity and advised families to ensure that their eligible girls were vaccinated, calling on everybody to support the exercise.
According to reports from the World Health Organization, global immunization efforts had saved an estimated 154 million lives over the past 50 years, he stated, saying that about 101 million of lives saved were infants.
He said vaccination has led to the eradication of smallpox, near elimination of poliomyelitis and elimination of measles in several regions of the world.
Dr Abukari indicated that immunization programmes like the Expanded Programme on Immunization in the country also provided the opportunities to promote integrated services including childhood nutrition and growth promotion, prevention of malaria and treatment for worm infestation.
He said over the years, the vaccination programme in the country had contributed immensely to Ghana’s modest reduction in under five mortality and improvement in child health.
There have been successes in measles control, polio eradication efforts, maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination and control of diarrhea and pneumonia in children.
Dr Abukari noted that despite those notable achievements, vaccination activities had encountered some challenges leading to some children not benefiting from immunization services.
He said continued efforts were required to fully protect all children from vaccine preventable diseases.
Dr Abukari explained that cervical cancer developed from persistent infection with high-risk strains of HPV, a very common virus that is spread mainly through sexual contact.
He said about 99 percent of cervical cancer cases were linked to high-risk HPV, saying that in Ghana, cervical cancer remained the second most diagnosed cancer in women.
HPV vaccination is a primary prevention tool that works best when given before a girl is exposed to the virus, he stated.
“An eligible girl who is not vaccinated within this age window loses the best chance to be protected before likely exposure to HPV, which is mainly through sexual contact”, Dr Abukari indicated, stating that if left unaddressed, a persistent high-risk infection could progress silently.
He said cervical cancer often had no symptoms in its early stages but as it advanced, it might cause unusual vaginal bleeding, pain during intercourse, foul-smelling discharge, unexplained weight loss and persistent fatigue.
“By the time these signs appear, treatment options are limited and outcomes are poorer”, Dr Abukari stated, adding that cervical cancer remained one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women in the country, yet it was largely preventable through timely vaccination.
He said no eligible girl child should suffer needlessly in adulthood from cervical cancer due to non-vaccination and called for stakeholder support to enable the campaign to achieve desirable outcomes.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Dennis Peprah
Email: [email protected]