CDA Consult Health Expert urges free HPV vaccination for all eligible girls

Mrs. Beatrice Kayi Gbesemete, Health and Wellness Expert at Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult), has called on health authorities and global partners to take a bold and urgent step in the fight against cervical cancer by ensuring free HPV vaccination for all eligible girls.

She expressed concern that cervical cancer—one of the most preventable cancers—continues to claim the lives of thousands of women each year, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where access to preventive healthcare is limited.

Mrs. Gbesemete emphasized that the HPV vaccine, when administered between the ages of 9 and 14, has been proven to provide long-term protection against the virus responsible for most cervical cancer cases.

Speaking at the rejuvenated CDA Consult weekly health information dissemination platform, dubbed "Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility!", Mrs. Gbesemete, who also serves as a Sapphire Director in LivePure (People United Reaching Everyone), a USA-based health and wellness company, underscored the importance of equitable access to the vaccine.

She stressed that "the lives of girls should not depend on their ability to pay," and added that "free HPV vaccination is not merely a medical solution but a social justice imperative that guarantees protection for every girl, regardless of her background or income level."

The CDA Consult weekly health information platform is designed to promote public health communication, improve health literacy, and influence personal health choices through reliable information dissemination.

Addressing the broader need for collective action, Ms. Jennifer Nelson, a preventive and occupational health management expert affiliated with CDA Consult, urged policymakers, healthcare institutions, development agencies, and community leaders to collaborate in removing barriers to access and expanding education on the HPV vaccine.

Ms. Nelson, who is also the Executive Director of Lifeline Haven Company Limited, highlighted the importance of community involvement, calling for intensified efforts to counter myths and misinformation that discourage vaccine uptake.

She stressed that “eliminating cervical cancer demands a collective investment in prevention, education, and inclusion,” and added that “protecting girls today lays the foundation for healthier families, stronger communities, and a future free from the burden of a preventable disease.”

In line with this advocacy, CDA Consult and its partners have launched a robust campaign to combat cervical cancer in Ghana while drawing global attention to the slow progress toward achieving the 2030 elimination target. The campaign also advocates for scaling up preventive measures, early detection, and treatment.

The Change Paradigm Advocacy Campaign for free HPV vaccination is part of a broader effort to fast-track cervical cancer elimination strategies in Ghana and beyond.

In November 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) approved an ambitious global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer through scaled-up interventions. According to WHO data, in 2021, US$94.7 million was invested in HPV vaccination programmes and US$66.6 million in cervical cancer screen-and-treat initiatives, both representing significant increases from 2020.

However, despite the progress, current funding levels fall short. At the existing pace, only about US$1.6 billion, representing 15% of the US$10.5 billion needed to meet the 2030 cervical cancer elimination targets in low- and lower-middle-income countries, is projected to be mobilized.