The Central Regional Health Director, Dr. (Mrs.) Alberta Biritwum-Nyarko, has emphasized that the ongoing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign is not limited to pupils in government schools.
She explained that every young girl between the ages of 9 and 14, regardless of the type of school she attends, should receive the HPV vaccine to help prevent cervical cancer.
Speaking at a press briefing in Cape Coast, Dr. Biritwum-Nyarko urged proprietors of private and mission schools to collaborate with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) by allowing their eligible students to be vaccinated.
“It is very important for all of us to note that this vaccination is not going only for government schools but it is going for all schools in the country, whether it is a mission school or privately owned school, because what is good for government is also good for non-government,” Dr. Biritwum-Nyarko stated.
She further appealed to the media to support the GHS in educating the public about the safety and benefits of the HPV vaccine, which has been scientifically proven to prevent cervical cancer in women.
Addressing misconceptions surrounding the vaccine, she said, “It is important that we understand that government or the Ghana Health Service is not peddling something that will kill our girls.
“We are not peddling something that will cause infertility in the future of our girls.”
“We are not doing anything that will be inimical to the health of the people of the country, since we are all mothers and parents. We are advocating for this for our own children and for the children of our relatives,” Dr. Biritwum-Nyarko added.
She reassured the public that the HPV vaccine is safe, effective, and genuine, urging parents and guardians to take their daughters to vaccination centers to help secure their future health.
According to Dr. Biritwum-Nyarko, the campaign aims to ensure a future free from cervical cancer for Ghanaian girls.
During the briefing, the Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr. Jojo Cobbinah, revealed that the Central Regional Health Directorate has targeted 209,221 girls for vaccination.
He disclosed that in 2020 alone, Ghana recorded nearly 2,800 new cases of HPV and 1,700 related deaths, stressing the urgent need for preventive measures.
Dr. Cobbinah added that 70% of women diagnosed with cervical cancer in Ghana are identified only after the disease has reached advanced stages, a situation the vaccination campaign seeks to change.
