The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) is preparing to roll out In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) services as part of efforts to expand access to specialised reproductive healthcare in Ghana.

The Chief Executive of the hospital, Dr Yakubu Seidu Adam, announced that the IVF services will be offered through the Reproductive Health Unit of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department.

He described the development as a significant step in advancing the hospital’s reproductive health agenda and improving care for women, particularly those from underserved and vulnerable communities.

Dr Adam made the announcement at the launch of the hospital’s 2026 Cervical Cancer Screening and Awareness Campaign, held at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Conference Room.

He revealed that previous attempts to introduce IVF services at Korle Bu had been unsuccessful, but expressed optimism that the initiative has now come to fruition. He called for strong teamwork and sustained commitment to ensure the successful implementation and long-term viability of the programme.

Speaking at the event, the Head of Reproductive Health at KBTH, Professor Kweku Asah-Opoku, stressed the importance of intensifying education, screening and vaccination to significantly reduce cervical cancer-related deaths in the country.

The Programme Coordinator, Rev. Rose Eduful, who also serves as Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, reaffirmed the hospital’s dedication to cervical cancer prevention, emphasising that early detection remains one of the most effective ways of saving lives.

The Director of External Affairs at Telecel Foundation Ghana, Komla Buami, reiterated the Foundation’s support for cervical cancer prevention initiatives.

He noted that the collaboration goes beyond awareness creation, disclosing that the MahamaCares initiative has donated colposcopy machines to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital and Sefwi-Wiawso to enhance service delivery in underserved areas.

Mr Buami further announced that Telecel Foundation Ghana has committed to covering the cost of all medical consumables for the next two years.

This intervention is expected to enable free cervical cancer screening for at least 10,000 women, removing financial barriers to early detection.

Chairperson of the programme, Professor Samuel Oppong, expressed satisfaction with the impact of the campaign over the years. He disclosed that Ghana records about 3,000 new cervical cancer cases annually, with more than half resulting in death, and urged stakeholders to intensify preventive efforts to protect women’s lives.

In a technical presentation, Professor Asah-Opoku highlighted the role of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, noting that cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer globally and that about 95 per cent of cases occur in low- and middle-income countries, despite being largely preventable.

He explained that the World Health Organization now recommends a single-dose HPV vaccine for girls aged between nine and 14 years, which can prevent up to 90 per cent of cervical cancer cases.

Addressing misconceptions surrounding HPV vaccination, Dr James Neequaye dismissed claims linking the vaccine to infertility, promiscuity, microchips or herbal alternatives, stressing that the vaccine is scientifically proven, safe and lifesaving.

The programme ended on an optimistic note, with hospital management, health professionals and representatives of Telecel Foundation Ghana expressing shared commitment to improving women’s health outcomes in Ghana.