St. Mary’s International School, a basic school located in the heart of the Ashaiman Municipality, has joined the ongoing nationwide Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination exercise being carried out by the Ghana Health Service under the Ministry of Health.
The program forms part of a national effort to protect young girls from cervical cancer and improve women’s health across the country.
The vaccination exercise is currently being held at the school’s premises as at the time this report was written, on Thursday, 9th October 2025.
Ahead of the activity, the school sought consent from parents to allow their daughters to participate in the vaccination.
The school’s management was commended for its active role in educating parents and encouraging their support for the program.
Before the vaccination exercise commenced, the health team led by Madam Emelia Egbezutsor from the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Unit educated all girls from Upper Primary 4 to JHS 3 at the school’s canteen hall. During the session, the girls were taught what the Human Papilloma Virus is, how it spreads, and why vaccination is important for their future health.
The education session also gave the pupils the opportunity to ask questions and clear any fears or misconceptions about the vaccine.
Speaking in an interview at the event, Madam Beauty Aformale, a vaccinator from the RCH Unit at Tsinaiagber Sub-District, explained that the HPV vaccination is part of a broader campaign taking place in schools and health facilities nationwide.
“Today we are here to vaccinate our children against the Human Papilloma Virus to protect them from cervical cancer. This is a national program introduced by the government through the Ghana Health Service because cervical cancer cases are on the rise,” Madam Aformale said.
She further noted that the exercise targets girls between the ages of 9 and 14, since early vaccination offers stronger protection before adulthood.
While some schools have shown hesitation about the vaccine, Madam Aformale praised St. Mary’s International School for its full cooperation and commitment to the health of its pupils.
A Basic 6 pupil of the school, Shika Atsu Emerald, also shared her experience. “Initially, I was nervous, but I mastered courage, and after taking the injection, I realised it wasn’t that painful,” she said. She added that her parents allowed her to take the vaccine to protect her against the disease.
Madam Aformale expressed optimism that with consistent participation nationwide, Ghana will see a major reduction in cervical cancer cases by 2030, in line with the World Health Organization’s goal to eliminate the disease.
“After this exercise, we expect cervical cancer cases to reduce drastically by 2030. The aim is to completely eliminate it from our system through early prevention,” she added.
The ongoing HPV vaccination campaign in the Ashaiman Municipality is one of several health initiatives rolled out across the country to promote preventive healthcare and safeguard the wellbeing of young girls. The exercise is being supervised by the Sector Minister, Minka Akandoh, as part of the government’s broader effort to ensure the successful implementation of national health programs.
By Julius Blay JABS
