The current drive targets particularly girls from grade six to ten
KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 4
The government has launched a vaccination campaign against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer, starting today. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, the nationwide vaccination campaign will last until February 18.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli launched the HPV vaccination campaign today by visiting the Baluwatar-based Shivapuri Higher Secondary School and distributing vaccination materials to health workers from Kathmandu metropolis-3.
According to the World Health Organisation, human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection. Almost all sexually active people will be infected at some point in their lives, usually without symptoms.
"In 90 per cent of people, the body controls the infection by itself. Persistent HPV infection with high-risk HPV types is the cause of cervical cancer and is associated with cancers of the vulva, vagina, mouth/throat, penis and anus," reads the WHO website on HPV.
"In 2019, HPV caused an estimated 620,000 cancer cases in women and 70,000 cancer cases in men."
Cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer caused by HPV, with other less common cancers affecting men and women, including anal, vulvar, vaginal, mouth/throat, and penile cancers.
HOW CAN IT BE PREVENTED?
According to WHO, condoms help prevent HPV but do not provide complete protection because they do not cover all of the genital skin.
HPV usually resolves on its own without treatment. Certain HPV infections cause genital warts. Others can cause abnormal cells to develop, eventually leading to cancer.
However, HPV-related cancers can be prevented with vaccines. The vaccine contains no live virus or viral DNA, so it cannot cause cancer or other HPV-related illnesses. The HPV vaccine is used to prevent cancer rather than to treat HPV infections or diseases.
GOVERNMENT EFFORTS
According to the Ministry of Health and Population, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in Nepal, resulting in four deaths per day. It is caused by a chronic infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).
The current vaccination campaign targets particularly girls from grade six to ten, and the Department of Health Services also ensures access to the vaccine for out-of-school girls aged 10-14. The vaccination drive is expected to provide 1,688,900 girls with the cervical cancer vaccine.
As per the Ministry data, on average, six women are reported suffering from cervical cancer every day while four die from it.
Earlier, Health Minister Pradeep Paudel had said that the government had declared three health facilities as the centres to receive services.
For this, at least 90 per cent girls aged 10 -14 years would be immunized with HPV vaccines, while at least 90 per cent women above 30 years would undergo the cervical cancer test by 2030.
On January 29, the Ministry of Health and Population appointed popular bollywood actress Manisha Koirala a goodwill ambassador for National Immunization Programme and HPV Vaccination Campaign.
Koirala, who is also a cancer survivor, emphasised that women can be protected from the risk of cervical cancer if preventive preparedness is ensured on time.
