My recent stretch assignment as a Planning Communication Officer at UNICEF Ghana’s Advocacy and Communication team put me at the center of high-level engagement. I worked across internal UNICEF sections and with key external partners—from Ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs) to local program colleagues—to enhance child rights advocacy and cultivate strong relationships. One of the most urgent issues was the alarming prevalence of cervical cancer among Ghanaian women, highlighting its priority for both UNICEF and the government of Ghana.
“Each year, Ghana records nearly 3,000 new cases of cervical cancer and loses about 2,000 women.”
In June 2025, there was a sigh of relief as we received news of the arrival of an initial shipment of 441,860 doses of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in Ghana for a nationwide rollout targeting girls aged 9 to 14 years. For months, our Advocacy and Communication team coordinated high-level advocacy moments to promote uptake, dismantle resistance, as well as to educate the public on HPV.
For months, our team had coordinated high-level advocacy, working to promote uptake, dismantle resistance, and educate the public on the HPV vaccine. Our work in the office was done.
The week of 6th October, however, was the test.
My journey to the Ashanti and Bono regions was not about internal planning or advocacy strategies; it was about seeing if that advocacy—the countless meetings, the press releases, the high-level key messages, the hard-won commitments — has translated into action. I traveled to observe the impact of our recent community mobilization efforts, ensuring that every parent feels encouraged and equipped to let their eligible child take this life-saving shot. This visit is the final, crucial link in the chain: connecting advocacy to the people.
The Journey
The journey itself was a palpable reminder of the distances involved in health equity. We drove past bustling market towns and isolated farming communities. Along the route, I saw banners/posters from the awareness campaign—proof that the messages landed here, far from the capital.
There was a quiet anticipation among our small team—a UNICEF Health Specialist, a driver, a photographer, and me—as the miles melted away. The landscape was moving, but the mission was fixed and the simple sight of a passing school sign reinforces the “why” behind every mile.
Arrival and Engagement with Health Workers, and School Authorities
The moment we arrived at the State Experimental Schools in Kumasi, Ashanti region, the energy was immediate. We chanced on health staff moving logistics to the makeshift vaccination station at the school. The station was simple, but the operation was meticulous. Health workers, with their uniforms or outreach attires starched and crisp, move with focused efficiency. I spoke with Dr. Akosua Gyimah Omari- Sasu, the District Director of Health Services at the Kumasi Metro, who led the team and targets 30,545 girls for this vaccination exercise.
"The turnout, honestly, has been better than we dared hope for," she tells me, wiping sweat from her brow, “most of our vaccination exercises have been with pre-schools so we did not know how this would turn out,” she added. "The biggest success was the continuous dialogue with caregivers. We used to see suspicion, but now, because the district education directors, community and religious leaders repeated the campaign messages in their jurisdictions, a lot of schools, and parents are calling to find out when we are reaching them. Our challenge is keeping up!"
Her reflection underscores the fundamental truth: high-level advocacy is necessary, but local messengers are indispensable. This was the link our communication strategy was designed to forge.
Turnout and Parent Perspectives
The true measure of our work walks through the gates here at the vaccination centers. As some parents and guardians arrive with their daughters, I gather a few short, but powerful, interviews.
A mother, Joyce Antwi, explained her decision: "I heard the message on the television, but it was at the local Parent-Teacher Association meeting where I finally understood. Four parents shared their personal experience and battle with cervical cancer. I don't want my daughter to face that ordeal when she grows up. This is my investment in her."
The impact of trusted voices is undeniable. Advocacy does not just fund the vaccine; it gives local leaders the confidence and facts they need to endorse it publicly, linking the vaccine's protective power to the community’s shared vision for its children.
Addressing Misconceptions and Resistance
Initial vaccine hesitancy, fueled by misconceptions, was a major roadblock. The most common resistance suggested the free nature of the HPV vaccine for the campaign signifies it being unsafe, as well as a misunderstanding that it can cause infertility in girls when they reach their reproductive ages or might lead to changes in sexual behavior. We had to intensify our advocacy strategy in the field, including collaboration with health officials to host health dialogues at mosques, PTAs, local media stations, specifically addressing these fears.
When I spoke with some of the newly vaccinated girls, their clarity was striking. Catherine, 13, who aspire to be a midwife in future stated confidently: "My mom encouraged me to take the vaccine. The nurses told us the vaccine protects my body, I feel safe." Hearing her and others, express such clear understanding confirms that dedicated education, backed by high-level endorsement, is successfully cutting through the myths.
Reflections from the Field
Leaving the Bono and Ashanti regions, what stood out most was not the number of shots of HPV vaccine given, but the quality of the trust built. I witnessed the direct, life-changing impact of advocacy being successfully translated into community engagement. Every advocacy briefing I gave in Accra, either with the Members of Parliament or internally with the Advocacy and Communication team found its true meaning here, in the simple, courageous act of a parent consenting for their child to take the HPV vaccine.
This field experience confirms the fundamental power of dialogue, information, and persistent advocacy. We must not only secure the vaccines but also equip the community leaders and parents with the facts and conviction they need to protect their children. The work is not over. We must sustain these efforts, continue to address every myth with a fact, and ensure that every single girl in Ghana receives the protection she deserves. Our advocacy is bearing fruit—now, we must ensure the harvest is complete. The good news is that the HPV vaccine has now been successfully integrated into the government's routine immunization program, ensuring eligible girls continue to receive it at no cost.
