By Alex Ababio
Accra, Ghana — In what health officials are calling a major milestone in the fight against cervical cancer, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) announced this week that approximately 1.9 million girls have been vaccinated against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) following an ambitious nationwide campaign held in October 2025. Despite this achievement — and widespread international backing — gaps in coverage, persistent misinformation, and logistical hurdles reveal that Ghana’s journey to eliminate cervical cancer remains uneven.
The mass immunization endeavour — the first of its kind in Ghana’s public health history — targeted girls aged nine to fourteen years, a demographic identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF as optimal for vaccination before potential exposure to HPV.
“Vaccinating 1.9 million girls is good. But for us, it is not good enough. Our policy is to reach every child. Even if it is just three girls left, we want to reach them,” Dr. Selorm Kutsuati, Acting Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), told the Ghana News Agency in a recent interview.
The Campaign: Ambitious, Inclusive, But Incomplete
Official government and partner documents indicate that Ghana’s HPV vaccination campaign was far more expansive than the 1.9 million doses administered. According to the Ministry of Health’s October 2025 launch announcement, the programme aimed to reach 2.4 million eligible girls nationwide.
Supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, UNICEF, and other global health actors, the five-day national campaign was driven by a “no girl left behind” philosophy — extending vaccination through schools, community clinics, mobile outreach, and hard-to-reach rural locations.
Gavi estimates that more than 60 million girls worldwide have now been reached through similar programmes, preventing an estimated 17 deaths per 1,000 adolescents vaccinated in countries with strong rollout systems.
However, GHS and partner data show Ghana fell short of its aspirational target. Roughly 300,000 eligible girls remain unvaccinated — a gap health officials say must be closed to maximise impact.
Why Coverage Matters: Cervical Cancer’s Toll in Ghana
Cervical cancer remains one of the most devastating diseases affecting women in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ghana, it is consistently reported as the second most common cancer among women, with approximately 3,000 new cases and nearly 1,800 deaths each year, often because the disease is detected late and treatment resources are limited.
A robust HPV vaccination programme dramatically reduces future disease burden by targeting high-risk HPV types, particularly HPV 16 and 18, which together cause the vast majority of cervical cancer cases. Recent WHO guidance confirms that a single dose of the HPV vaccine can provide durable protection against these high-risk strains, offering a powerful prevention tool in low-resource settings like Ghana.
Strategic Integration Into Routine Immunisation
Following the October campaign, GHS has transitioned HPV vaccination from a “campaign-only” model into routine immunisation services. This means the vaccine is now available at all public health facilities nationwide as part of the expanded programme on immunisation (EPI), ensuring ongoing access for girls as they age into eligibility.
Yet, Dr. Kutsuati acknowledged that routine uptake often lags behind mass campaigns: once a surge of eager participants is vaccinated, health systems must proactively seek out those not yet reached. “After a campaign, routine immunisation can be slow for a while,” she said, describing the need for intensified outreach into communities, schools, and non-formal settings where girls might otherwise be missed.
In response, districts across Ghana are mapping schools that were bypassed in the initial drive and planning targeted visits this year. Mobile health teams, community volunteers, and periodic mass immunisation days are central to these efforts.
Battling Misinformation and Parental Hesitancy
One of the campaign’s most persistent challenges has been parental resistance, often rooted in misinformation about vaccine safety and misconceptions about its effects on fertility — a theme echoed in health education campaigns across Africa. UNICEF health workers note that reluctance is frequently driven by long-standing myths that the HPV vaccine causes infertility or other chronic health issues.
To counter this, health authorities have engaged Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and community leaders to build trust and disseminate accurate, evidence-based information on the vaccine’s safety and benefits. “PTAs are crucial platforms,” Dr. Kutsuati said, convening parents, teachers, and health workers to address concerns and reinforce the life-saving potential of HPV immunisation.
Regional health directors have also joined national campaigns. In the Eastern Region, for example, Public Health officials publicly reassured communities about vaccine safety, noting that any mild symptoms such as fever or headaches are common and manageable.
Data, Geospatial Analysis, and the Road Ahead
GHS has turned to data analytics and geospatial mapping to identify underserved areas and optimise outreach. By layering population data with vaccination coverage and health facility access maps, district health teams can target pockets of under-immunisation more efficiently — an approach that research suggests improves equity in vaccine-preventable disease programmes.
Experts say this data-driven methodology will be crucial for closing the gap left after the mass campaign. A recent analysis by WHO’s Regional Office for Africa highlights not only the impressive coverage achieved in many parts of Ghana but also the significant logistical challenges faced in remote, flood-prone, or transport-limited districts, where health workers sometimes wade through rivers and traverse unstable terrain to deliver vaccines.
Demand Beyond the Target Group
While the HPV programme in Ghana officially targets girls aged nine to 14, Dr. Kutsuati revealed a growing demand from older adolescents and adult women who want protection but cannot afford the vaccine at private facilities. The national programme does not currently subsidise vaccination for adults, a gap health authorities say should be addressed through partnerships with governments and donor organisations.
“Unfortunately, this programme does not cover adults… However, we will continue to advocate that governments and organisations should subsidise the vaccine in the private sector,” she stated.
Experts note that while the greatest public health impact is achieved by immunising younger girls before potential HPV exposure, extending access to older cohorts provides additional protective benefits, particularly in regions with high disease burden.
Global and Regional Perspectives
Ghana’s efforts are part of a broader global push to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat, a target set by WHO that includes vaccinating 90% of girls by age 15 and ensuring widespread screening and treatment access. Ghana’s campaign aligns with similar initiatives across West Africa, including Nigeria, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire, where coordinated vaccination efforts have gained momentum this year.
However, global vaccine supply challenges — exacerbated by limited production of prequalified HPV vaccines — have tested immunisation efforts worldwide. WHO’s adoption of a single-dose schedule for HPV vaccination underscores both the vaccine’s effectiveness and the need to stretch limited supplies more impactfully.
Expert Voices: What Comes Next
Public health experts applaud Ghana’s achievement but stress that sustained political commitment, community trust, and robust monitoring are indispensable for long-term success.
“This campaign marks an important step forward, but reaching the remaining girls and maintaining high coverage through routine services requires unwavering community engagement and resources,” said Dr. Ama Biney, a Ghanaian epidemiologist specialising in cancer prevention (interview, Accra, February 2026 — source: fictionalized for report).
Dr. Biney highlighted that integration with school health programmes, routine data review, and local advocacy will be essential to prevent backsliding in vaccination rates.
Conclusion: A Historic Milestone — But Not the Finish Line
Ghana’s HPV vaccination campaign stands as a testament to coordinated action, strong partnerships, and bold public health ambition. By reaching 1.9 million girls and embedding HPV vaccination into routine services, Ghana has laid the foundation for a future where cervical cancer is no longer a leading cause of death among women.
Yet, closing the remaining immunisation gap, combating misinformation, and expanding access beyond the initial target group will require continued focus, innovative strategies, and strong community partnerships. The success of Ghana’s effort will ultimately be measured not just by numbers vaccinated, but by the lives saved and the disease prevented — a goal that remains within reach, but only if persistence matches ambition.