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Published on October 9, 2025
In October 2025, Ghana took a decisive step in women’s health by launching its first nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program. The moment is both historic and deeply symbolic, marking the country’s renewed commitment to protecting girls and women from cervical cancer, one of the most preventable yet devastating diseases on the continent.
Our publication in SAGE Cancer Control, “Challenges and Opportunities for Cervical Cancer Prevention Through HPV Vaccination in Ghana: A Public Health Policy Analysis” (DOI: 10.1177/10732748251383280), offers timely and evidence-based insights to this national effort.
The study examines Ghana’s evolving policy landscape for HPV vaccination, tracing how competing health priorities, limited resources, and fragmented policy frameworks have shaped the country’s slow adoption of preventive strategies. Drawing on interviews with key stakeholders and national survey data, the paper reveals both the challenges and the quiet momentum building across the health system.
What emerges is a story of opportunity: public awareness of HPV and cervical cancer is rising, community support for vaccination is strong, and international partners are aligning resources to make nationwide rollout possible. The findings suggest that with sustained political will, adequate funding, and locally grounded policy design, Ghana can become a model for HPV prevention in sub-Saharan Africa.
Find the full article here: "Challenges and Opportunities for Cervical Cancer Prevention Through HPV Vaccination in Ghana: A Public Health Policy Analysis"
Asempah, Eric, Ikpebe, E., Wyndham-West, M., & Wiktorowicz, Mary E. (2025). Challenges and opportunities for cervical cancer prevention through HPV vaccination in Ghana: a public health policy analysis. Cancer Control, 32. https://doi.org/10.1177/10732748251383280
Themes | Global Health Foresighting |
Status | Active |
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Mary E. Wiktorowicz, Interim Director - Active
Eric Asempah, Community Fellow, Global Health Foresighting - Active |
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