Kathmandu, Feb 4: Marking World Cancer Day (February 4), the Ministry of Health and Population has launched a nationwide free HPV vaccination campaign starting today. The campaign, primarily school-based, will run from Magh 22 to Falgun 6 across Nepal.
This initiative aims to protect girls from cervical cancer, the leading cancer among Nepali women. The ministry has set a target to vaccinate around 1.7 million girls aged 10 to 14 years across the country. The vaccine will be administered to school-going girls from grades 6 to 10, as well as out-of-school girls within the same age range.
Ministry spokesperson Dr Prakash Budhathoki urged everyone to support the campaign. “We have already conducted a successful pilot program. This nationwide rollout is backed by the government and multiple stakeholders to ensure no eligible girl is left out.”
Dr. Abhiyan Gautam, head of the Child Health and Immunization Section under the Family Welfare Division, detailed the campaign’s scale:
- 18,900 vaccination centers in schools
- 8,200 additional vaccination sites
- 27,080 healthcare workers deployed
- 54,160 volunteers mobilized
- 15,674 supervisors overseeing the process
Authorities urge parents and guardians to ensure eligible girls receive the vaccine, preventing cervical cancer and promoting long-term reproductive health. #nepal #HPV #vaccine
