Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has emphasized the urgency of preventative care and directly challenging public skepticism surrounding new vaccines. He was speaking at the national launch of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in Accra today.
He expressed immense joy and excitement over the program’s culmination. “It has taken us a considerable effort to get to where we are today. It is not easy to embark on that journey,” he stated, as the nation officially began the process of integrating the HPV vaccine into its routine immunization schedule.
Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh revealed that he initially doubted the staggering statistics presented in his briefing notes, necessitating further consultation. “What was it? That every year we record not less than 3,000 new cases,” he recounted. More alarmingly, he continued, the data indicated a mortality rate of approximately 2,000 deaths annually from HPV-related cancers. “I doubted it,” he admitted, “And upon consultation, it looks like it is the reality. The mortality rate for HPV is very, very high.”
This sobering reality, he asserted, mandates that the public remain undivided in the fight against HPV.
Dispelling Conspiracy Theory
Acknowledging the predictable rise of conspiracy theories that accompany the introduction of any new vaccine, the Minister offered a firm reassurance to the public. “Let me assure you that this HPV vaccine is safe, it is effective,” he declared, emphasizing that Ghana is not a pioneer in this effort.
”At best, we are joining other African countries, like Rwanda, like South Africa, like Botswana,” he noted, underscoring the vaccine’s international acceptance. Furthermore, he confirmed the vaccine has received full approval from both Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
A Cornerstone of Preventive Health
The launch marks a significant step in the government’s commitment to providing free, primary healthcare, shifting the focus from treatment to prevention.
”Many times, we go to the hospital when we are sick. But most of these diseases can be prevented,” the Minister said. He proudly announced that HPV is now preventable, and the nation is ready to combat it head-on.
Addressing parents and caregivers with “the greatest of respect,” he made a heartfelt appeal, “Let’s support and bring our children, our girls, aged between 9 to 14 for this vaccination.”
He then revealed the economic justification for the government’s intervention, noting that the vaccine could cost individuals between GHS 1,000 to GHS 3,000 on the private market. This cost barrier, he noted, has historically left “the vulnerable and those who cannot afford it” without protection.
Rollout Strategy and Public Consent
The initial phase of the program is massive, targeting no less than 2.5 million girls. Following this campaign, the vaccine will become a permanent, routine part of the national immunization program.
He also sought to build trust by confirming that the vaccine has already been successfully piloted in the country from 2013 to 2018. He also stressed that participation is voluntary, with consent forms distributed in schools to ensure no child is vaccinated against their or their parents’ will.
Concluding his address, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh urged every girl child to recognize that getting vaccinated is an act of self-interest, “It is in your interest to protect yourself and protect the next generation.”
Story By: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
