Editorial
Vaccinate boys, girls against cervical cancer
In the battle against cervical cancer, resident public health physician Dr. Victoria Partey-Newman has pushed for immunisation of both boys and girls.
It is the best approach, in her opinion, to stop the sickness from spreading. She asked that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine be made a part of the nation’s educational programme and given to both boys and girls starting at age nine in schools.
She claimed that doing so could help eradicate HPV and successfully lower the risk of infection in boys, as well as decrease transmission, boost immunity, and lessen problems linked to HPV.
According to her, among Ghanaian women aged 15 to 44, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer. She said that statistics indicate that 2,797 women receive a cervical cancer diagnosis annually, with 1,699 of those cases ending in death.
The numbers are concerning, but even more worrisome is the fact that males can catch HPV from infected women through sexual contact.
Male partners may also increase their female partners’ risk of developing cervical cancer, therefore this is serious.
The theme of this year’s World Cervical Cancer Awareness Month was “learn, prevent, screen,” and it was observed worldwide, including in Ghana.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) designates January, annually to promote immunisation against HPV, the primary cause of cervical cancer, and to increase public awareness of the illness.
It is fitting that the WHO emphasises during this year’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month the significance of expanding access to HPV vaccinations, routine screening, and cutting-edge treatment for cervical cancer in its early stages.
Although previously the most frequent type of HPV-related cancer has been cervical cancer in women, data indicate that approximately 40 percent of cases of HPV-induced cancer also occur in men.
The Spectator concurs with the Resident Public Health Physician that boys and girls starting at age nine should receive the immunisation in schools.
Even though HPV-related cancers can typically be successfully treated, it is always preferable to avoid cancer than to treat it, which is why the HPV vaccine is such an effective tool in the fight against cancer.
When women have vaginal bleeding after sex, bleeding after menopause, bleeding between periods, pain during sex, or watery, odourous, and occasionally bloody vaginal discharges, we strongly advise them to follow medical advice and attend the hospital.
In addition, women need to undergo yearly screenings, abstain from smoking, limit the number of sexual partners they have, maintain a balanced diet, and engage in regular exercise.
Reducing the incidence of cervical cancer by 2030 and ending the disease as a public health issue by 2120 require a common goal.
Dear Editor,
The recent shooting to death of Javits Frimpong, a 15 year old Ghanaian student in Bronx, USA, is a heartbreaking reminder that bullying should never be dismissed as a normal part of growing up.
Reports indicate that the teenager had allegedly been subjected to bullying at school before he was fatally shot on his way to class.
While investigations continue and the exact motive yet to be officially established, the circumstances surrounding this tragedy have raised serious concerns about the impact of not checking bullying.
What makes this loss even more painful is that Javits Frimpong, had moved from Ghana to the United States with hopes of a brighter future through education. Instead, his life was cut short at an age when he should have been pursuing his dreams and preparing for adulthood.
Bullying is often viewed as harmless teasing, but its effects can be severe and long-lasting. Victims may suffer emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, poor academic performance, and, in extreme cases, become entangled in violence.
This incident should serve as a wake-up call to schools everywhere. Complaints of bullying must be taken seriously, investigated promptly, and addressed decisively before situations escalate.
Parents, teachers, school authorities, and community leaders all share a responsibility to create safe environments for young people.
Open communication, counselling services, anti-bullying education, and effective disciplinary measures can help protect vulnerable students.
Equally important is teaching young people respect, empathy, and peaceful conflict resolution.
As we mourn the loss of Javits Frimpong, let us also commit ourselves to ensuring that no other child loses their life because warning signs were ignored. The fight against bullying is not merely a school issue; it is a societal responsibility.
Yours faithfully,
Dansoman
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The recent report that 294 teenage girls in the Ayawaso West Municipality failed to receive their Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a depressing reminder of the gap between medical progress and public trust.
In a focused campaign with 997 girls the Roman Ridge Sub-Municipal Health Directorate reached a 70 percent coverage rate. Our public health professionals deserve praise for reaching 703 girls, but the remaining 30 percent pose a serious threat.
This shortfall is not due to a lack of institutional effort, logistics, or resources. The directorate had sufficient logistics, as highlighted by Public Health Nurse Patience Adoli Kporxah. Rather, the barrier was completely human: a lack of parental approval.
In Ghana, one of the top causes of cancer-related mortality for women is still cervical cancer. Ironically, it is also one of the most avoidable. The HPV vaccine is widely acknowledged as a safe, highly effective barrier that, when given early, can prevent up to 90 percent of cervical cancers.
Parents are unknowingly leaving their daughters vulnerable to a virus that they will probably come into contact with in the future by withholding approval.
This initiative was not initiated in secret by the health directorate. They coordinated with churches, mosques, and media outlets, spoke at Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings, and sent letters to schools as part of their broad public outreach efforts. However, around 300 parents continued to withhold their signatures in spite of these multi-dimensional approaches.
Why is this resistance still present? Fear, cultural taboos, and false information about vaccines and reproductive health on the internet are the main causes of vaccine hesitation rather than an intent to hurt a child. When a vaccination is administered to young teenagers in schools, it may cause unjustified concerns about fertility and sexuality.
Our public health initiatives need to change in order to close this gap before the November and December phases.
Letters and the mass media are important, but they are unable to provide precise, worried answers. During PTA meetings, health staff could think about holding direct question and answer sessions so parents may express their worries without fear of being judged.
In order to normalise the vaccine, community elders, religious leaders, and reputable local physicians must do more than simply impart knowledge; they must openly support it.
We must present the HPV vaccine as a standard, life-saving cancer prevention tool that is now completely incorporated into Ghana’s regular immunisation programme.
The entrance is still open, according to public health officials. Daughters who did not participate in the school-based activity can still get the vaccination at no cost by taking them to any government health institution.
We must work together to prevent cervical cancer in the future generation. The infrastructure, education, and dosages have been supplied by public health teams. The trust must now be provided by the parents of Ayawaso West and Ghana as a whole.
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