Curious Minds, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has undertaken a sensitisation exercise at market centres and on the streets of Tamale, to promote the uptake of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for adolescent girls.

The exercise, organised in partnership with the Ghana Health Service and Ghana Education Service with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund, formed part of nationwide efforts ahead of the HPV vaccination exercise scheduled for October 07 to 11, 2025 across schools, communities, and health facilities.

The vaccine would be administered free of charge by trained health workers to girls aged between nine and 14 years, to protect them against cervical cancer.

During the sensitisation exercise, members of Curious Minds carried placards with messages such as: “Vaccinate a girl, save her future from cervical cancer,” “Parents, get your girls vaccinated,” and “Healthy girls, strong future: Say yes to HPV vaccination,” while engaging traders, shoppers, and passersby on the upcoming HPV vaccination exercise.

Mr Kingsley Obeng-Kyereh, the Coordinator of Curious Minds, said the activity was to help clear misconceptions about the vaccine and mobilise public support for the vaccination exercise.

He said Cervical cancer which was one of the leading causes of death among women could be prevented, explaining that the HPV vaccine could protect girls from the disease and give them a healthy future.

Mrs Miriam Bonah, a health professional at the Northern Regional Hospital, assured the public that the vaccine was safe and dispelled rumours suggesting that it could harm adolescent girls.

She said “The HPV vaccine is not meant to kill or make girls barren in future as some may have speculated. It is safe and will protect our girls from cervical cancer.”

Hajia Hamdaratu Abdul-Majeed, the School Health Education Programme Coordinator at the Tamale Metropolitan Directorate of Education, urged parents to allow their daughters to be vaccinated, emphasising that it would help them stay healthy, pursue their education, and contribute positively to national development.

At the Tamale Central Market, Madam Mohammed Azara, a mother of four, expressed confidence in the vaccine saying she would allow all her daughters to be vaccinated.

She encouraged other parents to do the same to protect their children.