Accra: Ms Jennifer Nelson, a Preventive and Occupational Health Management Expert, has stressed the importance of preventing cervical cancer, which remains one of the few cancers that is preventable yet continues to claim the lives of thousands of women annually.
According to Ghana News Agency, Ms Nelson, associated with the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult), emphasized the need for coordinated action to combat cervical cancer through the nationwide expansion of HPV vaccination. She explained that the primary cause of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common infection that can be neutralized with a safe and effective vaccine. Administered to girls between the ages of 9 and 14 before any exposure to the virus, the HPV vaccine provides long-lasting protection and significantly reduces the risk of developing cervical cancer later in life.
Despite its proven effectiveness, access to the vaccine remains uneven across many communities. Barriers such as limited public health infrastructure, inadequate awareness, cultural misconceptions, and insufficient outreach efforts have contributed to low vaccination rates, especially in rural and underserved areas. Ms Nelson spoke on the urgency of expanding HPV vaccination across the country and the need for stronger collaboration to protect eligible girls at the rejuvenated CDA Consult weekly health information dissemination platform dubbed 'Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility!'
The CDA Consult weekly health information dissemination platform aims to promote health-related communication and provide a platform for health information dissemination to influence personal health choices through improved health literacy. CDA Consult is collaborating with Lifeline Haven Company Limited and Caritas Christi Hospital in Ho, in the Volta Region, for consistent and relentless advocacy to make Ghana cervical cancer-free by 2030.
Ms Nelson, who is the Executive Director of Lifeline Haven Company Limited, encouraged collaboration among government agencies, local health authorities, schools, religious leaders, and civil society to support and scale up HPV vaccination programs. Mr Francis Ameyibor, CDA Consult Executive Director, stressed the importance of stronger engagement and sustained advocacy to ensure that eligible girls receive the vaccine and are adequately protected.
He explained that expanding access to HPV vaccination not only reduces mortality but also eases long-term healthcare costs, lessens the emotional and financial strain on families, and contributes to healthier and more resilient communities. Mr Ameyibor, a Healthy Lifestyle Advocate, emphasized the need to push for comprehensive vaccination coverage that aligns with global health targets aimed at eliminating cervical cancer as a public health threat by 2030.
Achieving this goal will require investments in public education, logistics, and service delivery, ensuring that no girl is left behind due to geography, income level, or lack of information. CDA Consult maintains that accelerating HPV vaccination efforts is a crucial step toward preventing needless suffering and saving lives and calls on all sectors of society to act with urgency and commitment.
Mr Ameyibor noted that CDA Consult and partners have rolled out a relentless advocacy campaign to combat cervical cancer in the country and draw global attention to the slow pace in achieving the 2030 target and the need for scaling up the process. The Change Paradigm Advocacy campaign for free HPV vaccinations and scaling up prevention, detection, and treatment aims to fast-track the processes to eliminate cervical cancer in Ghana.
He explained that early detection of cervical abnormalities through screening is a critical component of cervical cancer elimination. CDA Consult, a development communication advocacy non-governmental organization, will continue to rally stakeholders towards a relentless national advocacy campaign to battle cervical cancer. Mr Ameyibor added that CDA Consult is working with health professionals, human rights advocates, gender activists, religion adherents, and communication practitioners towards the upscale goal of cervical cancer elimination in the country.
Mr Ameyibor acknowledged that progress has been achieved in spreading cervical cancer awareness. Nonetheless, as the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal threshold for cervical cancer eradication approaches, there is a need to scale up efforts through a comprehensive national action involving both state and non-state actors.
