The District Health Office has stated that a school-centered program will be conducted from Magh 10 to 12 under the Complete Vaccination Assurance Campaign.
An HPV vaccination program against cervical cancer is to be launched in Dhankuta.
The District Health Office has stated that the school-focused program will be conducted from Magh 12 to 13.
1,286 adolescent girls in the district are expected to benefit from the program. Of these, 1,257 are school-going students and 29 are out-of-school adolescents and girls.
According to District Health Chief Sirjana Banjade, adolescents in the age group of 10 to 14 will be vaccinated. Arrangements have been made to vaccinate all girls studying in class 6 and adolescents of the same age group who are out of school.
Last year, 6,911 people were vaccinated against HPV in Dhankuta. The Health Office says that vaccination plays an important role in preventing cervical cancer.
Banjade said that although timely screening is possible, the screening rate in the community is very poor. According to her, only 4 percent of screenings have been successful in Dhankuta so far. She mentioned that women are unable to participate in screening and vaccination programs due to shame, hesitation, and confusion about vaccination.
The health office has urged parents, schools, and the community to actively participate in the vaccination program.
