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The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Health’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), is set to launch a nationwide campaign to vaccinate over 986,000 girls aged 11 to 18 with a single dose of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
The initiative aims to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Freetown, Mr. Desmond M. Kangbai, Manager of the EPI, said the campaign seeks to increase HPV vaccine uptake among girls both in and out of school. The nationwide exercise will run from 17th to 23rd November 2025.
Since most eligible girls are in educational institutions, the vaccination campaign will be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, with vaccination teams visiting schools and learning centers across the country.
Mr. Kangbai revealed that microplanning activities are currently underway in all 16 districts, focusing on data collection, coordination, and logistics management to ensure smooth implementation.
Highlighting the importance of the campaign, he disclosed that cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among Sierra Leonean women, with an estimated 512 new cases diagnosed annually, and over half of the victims losing their lives.
“Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Sierra Leone and is mainly caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV),” he said. “The vaccine is the most effective prevention tool and should be administered before girls are exposed to the virus.”
Mr. Kangbai assured the public that the HPV vaccine is safe, effective, and prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO), and has been approved by the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone for use in the country.
He concluded by calling on school authorities, community leaders, parents, influencers, and the media to join hands in promoting accurate information about the HPV vaccine.
“If we are to eliminate cervical cancer in Sierra Leone, vaccination must be our key strategy, supported by early screening and safe sexual practices. This is a collective effort that requires everyone’s support,” he emphasized.
