Ghana has taken a significant step in the fight against HPV-related diseases and cervical cancer with the launch of the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) Chapter. The event, held on Tuesday, July 25th, 2023, brought together over 90 stakeholders from various governmental and non-governmental institutions in Ghana and beyond.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for a wide range of cancers, including cervical, penile, vulvar, vaginal, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers. Professor Anna R. Giuliano, the IPVS President-Elect, highlighted in her keynote address that HPV contributes to about 5% of all cancers worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the majority of sexually active individuals will contract HPV at some point in their lives.
This alarming statistic calls for urgent attention and intervention. Despite the preventable nature of HPV infections, many people succumb to these diseases each year. Globally, nearly a thousand women lose their lives to cervical cancer daily. In Ghana, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women, ranking fourth globally in terms of prevalence. The Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimate that 10.6 million Ghanaian women aged 14 and above are at risk of cervical cancer, with 2800 new cases and 1700 deaths occurring annually.
To combat the rising incidence of HPV-related diseases and cervical cancer, the WHO has adopted a global strategy with the aim of eliminating these conditions as public health problems by 2030. The strategy includes targets such as vaccinating 90% of girls by the age of 15, screening 70% of women aged 35 to 45 for cervical precancer, and treating 90% of women diagnosed with cervical disease.
The IPVS Ghana Chapter currently boasts over 150 members, making it the second-largest after the United States Chapter. This impressive membership reflects a collective effort to eliminate HPV-related diseases in Ghana. Dr. Edward T. Dassah, Prof. Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah, and Dr. Emmanuel Timmy Donkoh, the IPVS Country Ambassadors, applauded the individuals and groups involved in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of cervical cancer in the country.
While Ghana successfully conducted pilot projects for HPV vaccination in selected regions over a decade ago, nationwide implementation has yet to be achieved. Recognizing the need for a concerted effort to eliminate cervical cancer, Dr. Dassah emphasized that the launch of the IPVS Ghana Chapter serves as a call to action. Key stakeholders at the event, including the director for the Expanded Program on Immunization in Ghana, representatives from the Medical Women Association of Ghana, WHO Ghana Non-Communicable Diseases, and the Ghana Health Service, echoed this sentiment.
The IPVS Chapter in Ghana aims to collaborate with academic institutions, the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service, WHO, and Civil Society Organizations to raise awareness about HPV-related diseases, conduct research, and translate policy into practice. This concerted effort will contribute to the achievement of global targets to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.
Through the launch of the IPVS Ghana Chapter, Ghana has demonstrated its commitment to combating HPV-related diseases and cervical cancer. This vital step forward brings together various stakeholders to work collectively towards a future where these diseases no longer claim lives unnecessarily. With continued efforts and collaboration, Ghana is determined to make progress in preventing and treating HPV-related diseases, protecting the health and well-being of its population.
