Today is February 4, World Cancer Day. On the occasion of this day, the Ministry of Health and Population is giving free 'HPV vaccine' against cervical cancer across the country from today. This vaccination campaign focused on schools is going to be conducted from January 22nd to February 6th all over the country.
With the aim of protecting against the risk of cervical cancer, which is the first cancer among women in Nepal, the APV vaccination campaign is going to be conducted across the country. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, around 1.7 million teenage girls are about to be vaccinated across the country.
In this campaign, the government has set a target of giving vaccination to 1.688 thousand 768 girls. Vaccination is going to be given to girls from classes 6 to 10 studying in school and girls aged 10 to 14 who are out of school.
The spokesperson of the ministry, Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, said that the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine against cervical cancer is going to be given to girls of the specified age group across the country and asked everyone to join the campaign from their own side.
He said, 'We have done its 'piloting' before. The test has been successful. Ministries and agencies at various levels and levels have actively contributed to make the campaign successful. Since this campaign will be conducted for two weeks, we request you to participate in the vaccination campaign with the understanding that none of the girls of the specified age group should miss out or repeat.
Dr. Abhiyaan Gautam, Head of Child Health and Immunization Branch of the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services informed that there will be 18,900 school vaccination centers and 8,200 other vaccination centers and 27,080 health workers will be mobilized during the vaccination campaign. Similarly, 54,160 volunteers will be deployed and 15,674 supervisors will be involved.
'Vaccine is effective, take it with confidence'
According to doctors, cervical cancer can be prevented if diagnosed and treated at an early stage. HPV vaccine is administered to prevent cervical cancer.
Gynecological oncologist Dr. Srishti Shrestha Prajapati said that the main cause of cervical cancer is infection with human papilloma virus (HPV). She informed that it ranks first among women's cancers in Nepal and fourth in the world.
According to him, more than 90 percent of cervical cancer is caused by HPV. She said, 'HPV vaccine helps to reduce the risk of cervical cancer. It has been successfully tested in the world. It has been found to be safe and effective. No negative effects were observed. Misunderstandings including infertility or menstrual disturbances are wrong. . It happens when you wear it with confidence.'
It is mentioned in the statistics of the Ministry of Health that four women die of cervical cancer every day in Nepal. According to 'Global Cancer Observatory, 2022', 2,169 women in Nepal get this type of cancer every year. Every year, 1,313 women die of cervical cancer and on average, four women die every day.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr. Budhathoki, urged all teenage girls to get the vaccine with confidence as it gives 90 to 95 percent protection after HPV vaccination. He said, 'This vaccine is being used in more than 145 countries of the world and it has been used in 61 countries. It is recognized by the World Health Organization and approved by the Department of Drug Administration. We request you to apply it confidently as it will be given a vaccine that has been proven by science.'
Dr. Budhathoki said that there may be some side effects such as pain, swelling, and fever at the injection site after vaccination. 'We have also found rumors that some people should not take this vaccine. They are just illusions. We have kept a group of doctors on standby to treat any side effects after vaccination. After the vaccination, we keep it in a separate room for 30 minutes to see the effect. If you are outside the age group and have a fever, do not vaccinate.'
In order to include HPV vaccine in the national vaccination program, the government successfully conducted a 'pilot program' in Kaski and Chitwan for conducting and studying the program with the help of Gabi in the fiscal year 2072/73 and FY 2073/74. In the year 2080/81, two doses of this vaccine have been given to 10,000 teenage girls in one hospital of each province as a 'demonstration'. Likewise, the vaccination branch has included it in the national vaccination schedule.
The World Health Organization has made an international strategy to prevent cancer by 2030. The target of (90-70-90) has been set in this strategy. Nepal also aims to have 90 percent of adolescent girls fully vaccinated for HPV by the age of 15, 70 percent of women to be tested once by age 35 and re-examined by age 45, and 90 percent of women diagnosed with cancer will receive treatment and be cured.
