The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is strategising to reduce the prevalence of cervical cancer among Ghanaian women, with the use of a vaccine.
By the end of this year, the GHS plans to launch a vaccine campaign targeting pre-adolescents aged 9 to 14.
For medical experts, the incidence of the human papillomavirus (HPV), is a major risk factor for cervical cancer, making it critical to take action on.
The ICO/IARC HPV Information Center estimates that 2,797 new cases of cervical cancer are identified in Ghana each year (as of 2020). In Ghana, cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer in women.
Dr. Kwame Amponsah-Achiano, the Programs Manager for the Expanded Programme on Immunization at the Ghana Health Service, stressed the importance of every child receiving a two-dose vaccine.
“we will roll out a nationwide vaccination, and our focus is usually on young people before they get sexually active. So by the end of the year, we should have started the vaccination”, he said.
Initially, three doses were given during the pilot phase, but now it has been reduced to two. However, Dr. Amponsah-Achiano mentioned the possibility of returning to two doses for better effectiveness.
Ghana Health Service works to reduce the rate of cervical cancer
