The Ghana Health Service (GHS), in partnership with Municipal Health Directorates, has officially incorporated the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine into the country’s routine immunisation schedule, targeting girls aged 9–14 who missed the vaccine during the nationwide campaign in September 2025.
According to a press statement signed by Mrs. Wilhemina Duah Morttey, Municipal Director of Health Services in Tarkwa Nsuaem, vaccinations began in January 2026 through both school-based and out-of-school health services.
The move aims to curb cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Ghana. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports cervical cancer as the fourth most common cancer in women, with approximately 660,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths in 2022—94% of which occurred in low- and middle-income countries, including Ghana.
The GHS noted that while treatment for cervical cancer currently focuses on managing symptoms, vaccination provides an effective preventive measure. HPV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral routes, and can also spread through bodily fluids and close skin-to-skin contact, including kissing.
Health authorities emphasised that the virus often shows no symptoms, making vaccination critical in protecting young girls from future risk. The introduction of the HPV vaccine into routine immunisation is expected to significantly strengthen Ghana’s efforts in reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality.
