Adolescent girls to be vaccinated against cervical cancer

Government will from next year start a pilot project to vaccinate adolescent girls against cervical cancer, which is said to be the frequently reported cancer among women between the ages of 15 and 44.

The disease caused by the Human Papilloma Virus affects women who indulge in early sex, particularly during the teenage years, and those having multiple sexual partners.

In Ghana, current estimates indicate that on the average, 3,038 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer while 2,006 of the number die from it every year.

Addressing women groups to mark this year’s race to find a cure for breast cancer, President Mahama said the pilot will be extended nationwide to vaccinate all young women.

“When that pilot is successful, we are going to expand the vaccination across to our women in order to protect them from Cervical Cancer.

“The thing about Cervical Cancer is that it has a vaccine, and we can prevent it and its easier to deal with than breast cancer,” the president stated.