The government has started a nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign against cervical cancer for girls studying in grade 6 from today.

According to the Child Health and Vaccination Branch of the Department of Health Services, vaccination has been started for girls studying in grade 6 and out-of-school girls aged 10 across the country from today to Falgun 15. 

During the campaign, girls currently studying in grades 7 to 10 and out-of-school girls aged 11 to 14 who missed out on last year's HPV vaccination campaign will also be vaccinated under the same campaign, and  the branch has stated that it will be conducted in mountainous and snowy districts in Chaitra. 

The main reason for increasing the risk of cervical cancer is human papillomavirus infection, so HPV vaccination should be done against it. Girls studying in grade 6 will be vaccinated at schools and other girls at vaccination centers. 

Chief Dr. Abhiyan Gautam urged everyone to get vaccinated as the vaccine is 100 percent effective. In Nepal, an average of six women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every day, of which four die. But this cancer can be prevented with HPV vaccination. 

The government had vaccinated about 1.7 million girls in grades 6 to 10 and out-of-school age groups of 10 to 14 across the country from Magh 22 to Falgun 6 last year. According to the branch, about 350,000 children will be vaccinated against cervical cancer during the 20-day campaign.