Korede Abdullah 
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Ashanti Regional Health Directorate has called on religious and traditional leaders across Ghana to support the nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign beginning October 7.
The initiative targets girls aged 9 to 14, aiming to curb cervical cancer, one of Ghana’s leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women.
Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Fred Adomako-Boateng, described community leaders as “powerful agents of influence and trust,” whose participation would determine the campaign’s success.
“Cervical cancer robs families of mothers and daughters every year,” Adomako-Boateng said. “The HPV vaccine offers a unique opportunity to protect our girls before exposure to this deadly virus.”
During a stakeholder meeting in Kumasi, clerics, traditional rulers, and officials from the Information Services Department, National Commission for Civic Education, and Ghana Education Service pledged their support.
The event, supported by UNICEF, focused on dispelling myths and promoting accurate information. UNICEF’s Social and Behaviour Change Specialist, Charity Nikoi, urged communities to “promote and actively participate in the vaccination campaign.”
Health experts say with over 3,000 diagnoses and 2,000 deaths annually, the HPV vaccine could mark a turning point in Ghana’s battle against cervical cancer.
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