Govt to launch free HPV vaccination to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer

KATHMANDU: The government is set to launch a vaccination campaign to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer.

The nationwide vaccination drive will be placed for 15 days from February 5 coinciding with Cancer Day.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, nearly 1. 69 million adolescent girls at the (7-14) age group will be vaccinated free of cost under the campaign.

Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Paudel has decided to launch the ‘Human Papilloma Virus’ (HPV) vaccination campaign against cervical cancer which is killing four people every day in the country, Ministry’s spokesperson Prakash Budhathoki said.

Upon assuming the office, Minister Paudel had pledged to conduct a vaccination campaign for the prevention and control of cervical cancer among adolescent girls.

It was also decided to include HPV vaccine against cervical cancer in the regular vaccination campaign from next year, he said.

There is support from the Global Alliance (GAVI) as well as government investment for the HPV vaccine. Senior Oncologist at Patan Institute of Health Sciences Arun Shahi stressed the need to get vaccinated against human papilloma as the reason for increasing the risk of cervical cancer.

He said women having early marriage, giving birth to children at a premature age, begetting children continuously in a short period of time, having physical relations with multiple partners, excessive smoking and drinking habit and negligence to vaginal hygiene are vulnerable to human papilloma.