Sekondi-takoradi: Ms. Henrietta Quabu, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan School Health Education Programme (SHEP) Officer, has confirmed that learners and parents have been thoroughly informed about the ongoing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign targeting girls in schools. She highlighted the proactive steps taken by some schools, which involved sending letters to parents and guardians to seek their consent for the inoculation, aiming to protect women and girls from cervical cancer.
According to Ghana News Agency, the initiation of the vaccination exercise faced moderate resistance from some learners, which Ms. Quabu acknowledged as an expected outcome. She emphasized that participation in the vaccination is voluntary and cannot be enforced. 'We realized some learners did not take part, and we didn't force them in any way. After the campaign, the vaccination will be part of the routine vaccination at the health centers. Once a girl attains the age of nine, she can go for it,' she explained.
Ms. Quabu further noted that if parents change their stance in the future, girls within the eligible age group can access the vaccine at health posts. She described the initial turnout as generally positive and expressed optimism for increased participation in the coming days. The HPV vaccination initiative, running from October 8th to 12th in basic schools, is a part of Ghana's routine immunization strategy to shield girls aged 9-14 years from cervical cancer, with a single dose providing lifelong protection.
Dr. Gifty Amugi, Deputy Director of Public Health at the Western Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service, underscored the importance of ongoing education to dispel any apprehensions parents might have regarding the vaccination.
