Ghana mobilizes health workers for crucial routine HPV vaccine rollout

GHANA— Ghana plans to introduce the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into its routine immunization program, with health workers playing a key role in reaching every eligible child and ensuring their protection.

To prepare frontline staff for this critical task, the World Health Organization (WHO) Ghana, working alongside the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, organized a meeting in Accra.

This session brought together professional health associations, including the Ghana Medical Association, the Paediatric Society of Ghana, and the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association.

Mr Desmond Boateng, Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, opened the session on behalf of the Minister of Health, emphasising the crucial role health workers play in gaining public trust.

He highlighted that health workers are at the core of the vaccination campaign, explaining that their knowledge, trustworthiness, and commitment will encourage parents to bring their children for vaccination.

According to him, the vaccination plans will remain ineffective without the active involvement of health personnel.

Dr. Fiona Braka, the WHO Representative to Ghana, delivered the keynote address.

She stressed that the success of the vaccine rollout depends heavily on the skills and confidence of frontline health workers.

She described these workers as the vital link between scientific knowledge and the community, as they not only deliver vaccines but also build trust, address concerns, and protect lives.

Dr. Braka pointed out that their dedication and leadership are essential to the campaign’s success.

During the session, National Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Manager Dr. Selorm Kutsoati presented the current state of preparedness for the campaign.

She explained that while vaccine supplies and program systems are ready, the campaign’s effectiveness will depend on how health workers engage with the communities they serve.

 “We have vaccines, strategies, and systems in place. However, health workers are the ones who put these plans into practice. Their interactions with families will shape the campaign’s coverage and impact,” she said.

Providing a clinical viewpoint, Dr. Hilda Boye, President of the Paediatric Society of Ghana, reminded attendees that the HPV vaccination campaign means more than just vaccinating a certain number of girls.

 She described the initiative as an investment in the health of young girls and the future of the entire nation.

Dr. Boye emphasized that every health worker who advises, comforts, or vaccinates a child is contributing to a lasting legacy for Ghana.

The meeting ended with a call for collaboration among health institutions, frontline workers, and the public to ensure the successful introduction of the HPV vaccine.

Through their leadership and dedication, Ghana’s health workers are central to the effort to protect young girls against cervical cancer and improve health outcomes for future generations.

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