Grand Kru County Launches Week-Long HPV Vaccination Campaign for Girls

By: Emmanuel Koffa I Grand Kru County Correspondent

Barclayville, Grand Kru County – Friday,Nov. 18,2025–The Grand Kru County Health Team, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and several national and international organizations, has officially launched a week-long Multi-Age Cohort Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign targeting girls aged 9 to 18.

The well-attended ceremony brought together government officials, community leaders, school authorities, health workers, partners, parents, and students from across the county.

Speaking on behalf of Superintendent Antoinette Worwlee Nimely, Roosevelt Doe thanked the Ministry of Health and its partners for their sustained support in strengthening healthcare delivery in Grand Kru County.

“We are grateful to the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO, Gavi, and all our partners for standing with the people of Grand Kru,” Doe said. He urged communities to take the HPV vaccine seriously, adding: “This vaccine is not a joke. It is important for the future of our girls. I encourage everyone here to be ambassadors and tell others about its benefits.”

Doe also reflected on the impact of preventable diseases on Liberian families, noting that many lives have been lost due to illnesses that could have been prevented. “Our health workers continue to risk their lives every day to serve us,” he said. “We must support them, especially those working in hard-to-reach communities.”

Declaring Monday, November 17 as the official launch of the campaign, Doe reaffirmed the county leadership’s commitment: “The Office of the Superintendent will continue to work closely with the Grand Kru County Health Team to ensure that every girl between 9 and 18 years is vaccinated.”

UNICEF Immunization Consultant for Grand Kru County, Joseph Saah, expressed UNICEF’s strong support for the campaign and assured stakeholders of the organization’s readiness to reach every eligible girl.

“UNICEF remains committed to ensuring that lifesaving vaccines are available to all children,” Saah said. He revealed that over 15,000 doses of the HPV vaccine had been supplied to the county. “This campaign is a reflection of how serious the Government of Liberia and its partners are about protecting the health of our young generation,” he noted.

Saah also explained the cost-sharing arrangement behind the vaccine procurement. “Gavi pays 80 percent of the total cost of the vaccine, while the Government of Liberia pays the remaining 20 percent. And I must say, the government has been very responsible in meeting its obligations,” he stated.

He emphasized the importance of the vaccine to the future of girls in Liberia, adding: “Our girls are the future of this country. Through the Ministry of Health, UNICEF will continue working to strengthen Liberia’s primary healthcare system.”

Also speaking, Paul Waylee, Regional Supervisor at the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) and head of the technical team, clarified misconceptions about the HPV vaccine.

“The HPV vaccine is not new,” he said. “It has been in Liberia’s immunization system for the past nine years, and girls aged 9 to 14 who missed earlier opportunities can still receive it at any health facility across the five districts.”

Waylee praised the mobilization efforts of local leaders and the turnout of students. “The turnout today shows the commitment of our communities and partners,” he said.

In separate remarks, S. Blohkwon Toe of the County Education Office and Jimmy Lawubal, Grand Kru County Surveillance Officer, called on all stakeholders to champion the campaign.

“We are calling on all parents, guardians, schools, and community members to ensure that eligible girls aged 9 to 18 are brought forward for vaccination,” Toe urged.

Lawubal echoed the call, saying: “Let us all continue serving as ambassadors for public health. This campaign is about preventing cervical cancer and giving our girls a healthier future.”

Both officials expressed delight in the Ministry of Health’s decision to officially roll out the HPV vaccination campaign nationwide.

The campaign seeks to protect girls from the Human Papillomavirus, the leading cause of cervical cancer—one of the deadliest cancers affecting women and girls in Liberia.