Tamale: Curious Minds, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has launched a sensitisation exercise at market centres and on the streets of Tamale to promote the uptake of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for adolescent girls. The initiative aims to encourage public support for the upcoming nationwide HPV vaccination exercise scheduled for October 07 to 11, 2025.
According to Ghana News Agency, the exercise is organised in partnership with the Ghana Health Service and Ghana Education Service, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund. The campaign is part of a broader effort to increase awareness and participation in the vaccination drive, which will be conducted across schools, communities, and health facilities. The vaccine will be administered free of charge by trained health workers to girls aged between nine and 14 years, aiming to protect them against cervical cancer.
During the awareness campaign, members of Curious Minds engaged with traders, shoppers, and passersby, carrying placards with messages such as ‘Vaccinate a girl, save her future from cervical cancer,’ ‘Parents, get your girls vaccinated,’ and ‘Healthy girls, strong future: Say yes to HPV vaccination.’ The initiative seeks to clear misconceptions about the vaccine and mobilise public support for the exercise.
Mr. Kingsley Obeng-Kyereh, the Coordinator of Curious Minds, explained that cervical cancer, a leading cause of death among women, could be prevented with the HPV vaccine. He emphasised that the vaccine could protect girls from the disease and secure a healthy future for them.
Mrs. Miriam Bonah, a health professional at the Northern Regional Hospital, reassured the public about the safety of the vaccine, dismissing rumours that it could harm adolescent girls. She stated, ‘The HPV vaccine is not meant to kill or make girls barren in future as some may have speculated. It is safe and will protect our girls from cervical cancer.’
Hajia Hamdaratu Abdul-Majeed, the School Health Education Programme Coordinator at the Tamale Metropolitan Directorate of Education, urged parents to allow their daughters to be vaccinated. She highlighted that vaccination would help girls stay healthy, pursue their education, and contribute positively to national development.
At the Tamale Central Market, Madam Mohammed Azara, a mother of four, expressed her confidence in the vaccine, stating she would allow all her daughters to be vaccinated. She encouraged other parents to do the same to protect their children.