Kathmandu, 18 November: The HPV vaccine against cervical cancer will be given free of cost from the 4th of February 2025. Recently, the number of premature deaths due to cervical cancer is increasing. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, about 1.7 million girls are going to be vaccinated to reduce the risk.
The spokesperson of the ministry, Dr Prakash Budhathoki, made reference to the World Cancer Day (February 4) and informed that they are going to give vaccination to the school girls from classes 6 to 10 and girls aged 10 to 14 years who are not going to school. According to him, the target is to give vaccination to 16 lakh 88 thousand 768 girls. He said, “We have estimated that 1.7 million girls will be vaccinated. All schools and health centers will be used as vaccination centers. After vaccination, 90 to 95 percent of cervical cancers are protected.”
According to Dr. Abhiyan Gautam, Head of the Vaccination Branch of the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services, there will be vaccination centers in 18,900 schools and 8,200 other vaccination centers, while 27,080 health workers will be deployed. 54,160 volunteers will be deployed in this campaign. 15,674 supervisors will be involved. He said, “This is a school focused vaccination campaign. We are preparing to operate all over the country at once from January 22nd to February 6th.
Four people die every day
The number of cervical cancer patients and the number of deaths are increasing every year in Nepal. Among women’s cancers, it ranks first in Nepal and ranks fourth among cancers in the world. According to the statistics of the World Health Organization for the year 2020, this cancer affects 570,000 women every year and is estimated to reach 700,000 by the year 2030. Likewise, 311,000 women die every year due to this and it is estimated that it will reach 400,000 by the year 2030.
It is a statistic that four women die of cervical cancer every day in Nepal. According to ‘Global Cancer Observatory 2022’, it is estimated that 2,169 women in Nepal will get this type of cancer every year. It is estimated that 1,313 women die of cervical cancer every year and on an average, four women die of this cancer every day.
The government has been giving priority to prevention of cervical cancer. It has been announced three times by including this topic in the policy and program. In order to include HPV in the national vaccination program, the government has successfully conducted a pilot program in Kaski and Chitwan with the support of Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) in FY 2072/73 and 2073/74. In the year 2080/81, as a ‘demonstration’, two doses of this vaccine have been given to 10,000 girls in 1-1 hospitals in each province.
The Vaccination Branch has approved the Vaccination Service Operation Guidelines for the year 2081/82 and is preparing for the vaccination campaign and regular vaccination service. Dr. Gautam, head of the vaccination branch, said that the vaccine will arrive by the middle of December. According to him, the vaccine is coming with the joint cooperation of Gavi and the Government of Nepal. “From next year, around January or February, the vaccine will be given in this way every year. Earlier we gave two doses of vaccine. This time, one dose of vaccine will be administered”, he said. He said that 17 lakh 70 thousand 20 vaccines will arrive soon for this campaign.
What is the HPV vaccine?
According to doctors, cervical cancer can be prevented if treated in the early stages. HPV is the vaccine given against this virus to prevent cervical cancer. The main cause of cervical cancer is the virus called HPV. According to the World Health Organization, more than 95 percent of cervical cancers are caused by HPV.
In Nepal, 80 percent of cervical cancer is caused by HPV types 16 and 18. HPV vaccine is the main way to prevent this disease. The World Health Organization recommends the HPV vaccine for children between the ages of nine and 14 who have not had sex. Although this vaccine does not prevent cancer, it greatly reduces the risk. Experts say that regular screening is necessary to prevent cancer.
The World Health Organization has made an international strategy to prevent cancer by 2030. In which the target of (90-70-90) is set. The World Health Organization has set the goal that 90 percent of adolescent girls will be fully vaccinated for HPV by the age of 15, 70 percent of women will be tested once by the age of 35 and again by the age of 45, and 90 percent of women diagnosed with cancer will be treated and cured.
Major Points:
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Global Perspective:
- About 90% of cervical cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where access to screening and treatment is limited.
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Preventive Measures:
- The HPV vaccine can prevent most cervical cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).
- Regular screening (Pap smear or HPV testing) is critical for early detection.
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Trends:
- The number of deaths is expected to decline in regions with widespread vaccination and improved healthcare infrastructure.
Efforts like the WHO’s Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer aim to reduce the incidence and mortality significantly by 2030 through vaccination, screening, and treatment initiatives.
