The Ghana Health Service is rolling out vaccination campaign in the Ashanti Region and Ghana at large. The vaccination campaign is targeting girls between the ages of nine to fourteen years against cervical cancer which is mainly cause by the human papilloma virus .
Cervical cancer which is said to have been claiming about 2000 lives every year in Ghana out of every 3000 women who contract the virus happens through sexual intercourse.
The vaccination which is scheduled to start from 7th October to 11th October 2025 is targeting girls between 9 to 14 years against the back drop that people within these age bracket are believed to be sexually inactive and for that matter do not stand the chance of attraction the virus easily.
At a stakeholders engagement in Kumasi organized by the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate to launch the vaccination campaign, the Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services Dr Fred Adomako Boateng made it clear that the vaccine does not bring about any fertility challenge nor affect sexual behaviors as being speculated.
He therefore urged parents, teachers, religious and Faith based organizations to encourage and support the smooth implementation of the program in order to secure the future of the young ones ones against the dangers of the virus.
“We all need to be ambassadors in fight again the disease since it is preventable; as the vaccine has come to protect the young and innocent girls before they are exposed to the disease” Dr Adomako Boateng stated.
Having expressed his disgust against the alarming rate at which the disease is claiming lives in Ghana, the Nkwanta kesehene Nana Boakye Yiadom Ababio who chaired the program pledged the commitment of traditional rulers in the Ashanti Region in fight against the disease and expressed his preparedness to ensuring a successful program.
Some other stake holders who pledged their support include the clergy, Muslim leaders, Queen Mothers, as we as the Ghana Education service and people at the health sector.
Story by Lawrence Kumah
