AYV News, November 18, 2025
Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Health 2, Dr Jalikatu Mustapha, has assured that the government of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio is fully committed to end Cervical Cancer in the country.
The Ministry officially launched the Multi-Age Cohort HPV Vaccine Campaign at the Saint Joseph’s Convent School in Freetown yesterday.
Dr. Mustapha said the goal of is to ensure we prevent the disease, adding that they have about 1.3million vaccines in store. The deputy minister assured that this is a safe vaccine that has been administered with safe records, adding that it has been proven globally to be one of the most effective preventable vaccines for this disease.
The high-profile event brought together officials from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education, the Ministry of Tertiary Education, and the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs. Development partners, including WHO, GAVI, UNICEF, and UNFPA, were also in attendance, alongside civil society activists, members of the media, and school children.
This landmark campaign aims to vaccinate girls aged 11 to 18 years against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a leading cause of cervical cancer. With a target of reaching over one million beneficiaries across Sierra Leone, the initiative represents a major step forward in safeguarding the health of future generations.
During the ceremony, the Ministers of Basic Education and Gender and Children’s Affairs delivered powerful statements underscoring the importance of the vaccination drive and reaffirming their ministries’ commitment to supporting the Ministry of Health in its implementation.
In his keynote address, Minister of Health Dr. Austin Demby educated the audience, particularly the schoolchildren on cancer and cervical cancer, highlighting the critical role of the HPV vaccine in prevention. He emphasised that this campaign is not only a health intervention but also an investment in the lives and futures of Sierra Leone’s young girls.
