Anti-cancer ‘HPV’ vaccine doses made available in Nepal

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population has imported ‘Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)’ vaccines administered against cervical cancer with the assistance of ‘Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI)’.

Director of the Supply Management Division of the Department of Health Services, Dr Pawan Jung Rayamajhi said 460,940 doses of the vaccine have been received. The vaccines have now been kept in the storage room at Teku and will be sent to the provinces gradually, he added.

The government has declared a vaccination drive from February 5 to protect adolescent girls from cancer from an early age.

As part of the 15-day campaign, 1,688,900 girls in the age group of 10 to 14 years from class 6 to 10 and out of school will be vaccinated, Child Health and Vaccination Section chief Dr Abhiyan Gautam informed.

According to him, GAVI will provide only 1.77 million vaccines to Nepal. Every year, four women die of cervical cancer in Nepal.

Human papillomavirus infection is the main cause of increasing the risk of cervical cancer, so it is necessary to get vaccinated against the life-threatening disease.

Human papilloma infection is caused by pre-mature marriage, early child delivery, giving birth to more children, having children at short intervals and having sex with multiple people, excessive smoking and drinking, and not paying attention to genital hygiene.

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women in Nepal, followed by breast cancer.