By Ibrahim Sorie Koroma
Senior Health Promotion Officer, Health Education Programme –Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health, through its Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), is set to launch a nationwide vaccination campaign targeting girls aged 11 to 18 years with a single dose of the lifesaving Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
Speaking at a recent stakeholders’ meeting in Freetown, the EPI Manager, Mr. Desmond M. Kangbai, said the campaign aims to increase HPV vaccine uptake among adolescent girls to protect them from cervical cancer later in life. He disclosed they were going to target over 986,000 girls (both in and out of schools) nationwide.
Recognizing that most eligible girls are enrolled in schools, Mr. Kangbai explained that the campaign will be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education. Vaccinations will be conducted in schools and higher learning institutions from 17th to 23rd November 2025.
To ensure the campaign’s success, Dr. Kangbai noted that microplanning activities are ongoing across all 16 districts — at community, facility, and district levels — to gather critical data for effective coordination and smooth implementation of the Nationwide HPV Mass Vaccination Campaign.
Highlighting the seriousness of cervical cancer, Mr. Kangbai revealed that the disease claims the lives of many Sierra Leonean women each year. “Every year, about 512 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and more than half of them die,” he said. “Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Sierra Leone and is mainly caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The most effective way to prevent it is by vaccinating girls before they become exposed to the virus.”
He emphasized that the HPV vaccine not only protects against cervical cancer but also prevents other HPV-related infections such as genital warts. “The vaccine is safe, effective, and prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO),” he assured. “It has also been approved by the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone for use in the country.”
In conclusion, Mr. Kangbai called on school authorities, community stakeholders, religious leaders, political actors, influencers, journalists, and the private sector to actively promote accurate information about the HPV vaccine and its benefits.
“If we are to eliminate cervical cancer in Sierra Leone, vaccination must be our key strategy—supported by early screening and the promotion of safe sexual practices,” he stressed. “This requires the collective effort of everyone, including parents, family members, and community influencers.”
