Over 30,000 girls to receive HPV vaccination in Sudurpaschim province

Kailali: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign against cervical cancer has commenced in Sudurpaschim Province, with a total of 30,786 girls set to be vaccinated across the province.

Minraj Joshi, Public Health Director at the Health Directorate Dipayal, informed that 10,343 girls will be vaccinated in Kailali, 5,553 in Kanchanpur, 2,583 in Doti, 1,806 in Bajura, 2,496 in Bajhang, 2,578 in Achham, 1,516 in Dadeldhura, 1,458 in Darchula, and 2,453 in Baitadi.

According to Director Joshi, the school-based vaccination program across the Far West will be conducted from Magh 27 to Falgun 2. Girls who miss the vaccination during this period will be able to receive it at their nearest health facility until Falgun 15.

The government has implemented the vaccination program in coordination with local levels, considering the risk posed by HPV types 16 and 18, which can lead to cervical cancer.

The vaccine will be administered to all girls studying in grade 6 and to 10-year-old girls who are out of school. Director Joshi noted that 146,612 girls across the province were vaccinated during last year’s campaign.

“Last year, girls studying in grades 6 to 10 and girls aged 11 to 14 who were out of school were included in the vaccination campaign. This year, the target group includes girls studying in grade 6 and girls up to 10 years of age who are out of school,” Director Joshi said.

Arrangements have also been made to vaccinate girls currently studying in grades 7 to 10 who missed last year’s vaccination program, as well as girls aged 11 to 14 who are not attending school.

This year, the government has set a national target of vaccinating around four lakh girls. To ensure cervical cancer does not remain a public health problem, a three-phase program—vaccination, screening, and treatment—needs to be effectively implemented. The government aims to achieve a 90 percent target in each of these phases.

According to Director Joshi, the first step in prevention is HPV vaccination for girls aged 10 to 14. The second step involves regular screening for women over 30 years of age, and the third step focuses on providing appropriate treatment to women diagnosed with the disease.

Every year, approximately 1,313 women in Nepal are diagnosed with cervical cancer. Statistics from the Family Welfare Division indicate that four women die each day in Nepal due to cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person. If the infection persists for 20 years, it can develop into cancer.

Source: Gorkhapatra