Ada east: The Ada East District Health Directorate has begun the national Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination exercise in the district. The exercise, which commenced on October 08 and will end on October 11, 2025, is estimated to reach about 5,423 young girls between the ages of nine and 14 years in the Ada East District, forming 6.6 percent of the district population.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Anderson Obeng Amoako, the Focal Person for the Ada East District Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), noted that the HPV vaccine is safe and effective. He explained that the vaccination was being given to only girls in Ghana due to cost-effectiveness, adding that while there was a growing understanding of the benefits of gender neutrality in the HPV vaccination, some high-income countries have moved towards it.
He said Ghana’s vaccination was primarily focused on protecting girls directly from the overwhelming burden of cervical cancer in a resource-efficient manner. Mr Amoako mentioned that the vaccination exercise was an indirect protection for boys because when a high proportion of girls in a population were vaccinated, it would significantly reduce the circulation of high-risk HPV types.
He explained that cervical cancer was the cancer of the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina, and that it happens when the cells at the opening of the womb become abnormal and start to grow out of control. He reiterated that the primary cause of cervical cancer was persistent HPV infection, stating that there were several risk factors for contracting the HPV infection, which later develops into cervical cancer.
Other risk factors, he said, included persons not vaccinated against HPV, early initiation of sexual activity, unprotected sex with multiple partners, a weak immune system and smoking or exposure to tobacco. According to him, cervical cancer has no symptoms; however, some symptoms often occur late when the disease had already spread into other tissues, leading to its advancement and hence becoming more challenging to manage.
Mr Amoako added that some late symptoms might include offensive, blood-stained vaginal discharge; bleeding between menses (intermenstrual bleeding); bleeding after intercourse or washing of the vagina; painful intercourse; and bleeding after menopause. He said that these symptoms could also occur in women with other health conditions, and it was therefore important for women to get regular cervical checkups.
He highlighted that all HPV-related conditions could be prevented through actions to avoid getting the virus, and that steps must be taken to detect it early for the appropriate action to be taken. The focal person stressed that some preventable steps included abstaining from early sex, avoiding multiple sexual partners, vaccinating against HPV, cervical screening and early treatment of the cervical lesions.