A coalition of faith-based institutions and government agencies has joined forces to support a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign aimed at reducing cases of cervical cancer in Ghana.
The key partners in this campaign include the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, the Office of the Chief Imam, the Tijaniyya Muslim Council, the Ghana Health Service, the Ghana Education Service, and UNICEF.
Speaking at the launch of the initiative, UNICEF Country Director Osama Makkawi Khogali highlighted the importance of engaging diverse stakeholders in the fight against HPV. He explained that the roles of the faith-based and government institutions will include public education, awareness creation, and sharing accurate information about the safety of the vaccine. These efforts, he said, will help boost participation across different communities.
General Secretary of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, Apostle Immanuel Tettey, urged Ghanaians to embrace the vaccination exercise, stressing its importance for individual, family, and community health.
“Let’s make ourselves available for this vaccination. It is something that will help us in our communities and families. We have been assured that there are no negative side effects, particularly with regard to fertility,” he affirmed.
Similarly, Dr. Mohammed Marzuq, aide to the National Chief Imam, described the campaign as a collective responsibility that cuts across religious and secular divides. He emphasized that supporting the vaccination is a civic duty with benefits that will extend to all.
HPV is a leading cause of cervical cancer, which develops when cancerous tumours form in the cervix. Globally, it is among the most common cancers affecting women, with high prevalence recorded among females in their reproductive years.
The nationwide campaign seeks to protect young girls from HPV infection and contribute to the long-term reduction of cervical cancer cases in Ghana.
