HPV Vaccination Campaign to Target Thousands of Girls in Kanchanpur

Kanchanpur. An 'HPV' vaccination campaign will be conducted in Kanchanpur from Magh 27 to Falgun 1 to prevent cervical cancer. The Health Office has set a target to vaccinate 5,500 female students and adolescents in the district.

According to Janak Bahadur Kunwar, Cold Chain Officer at the Health Office, this year's campaign is preparing to vaccinate female students studying in Grade 6 and adolescents aged 10 who are out of school. Cold Chain Officer Kunwar of the Health Office stated that female students studying from Grade 7 to 10 and adolescents aged 11 to 14 who missed the vaccination drive last year will be vaccinated.

"We are preparing to operate the program by designating vaccination centers in every school," said Officer Kunwar, "Arrangements have been made for adolescents who missed vaccination in school or are out of school to get vaccinated at the nearest health facility on Falgun 1."

According to World Health Organization statistics, cervical cancer is considered the highest risk among cancers affecting women. Studies have shown that this is the leading cancer among women in Nepal, and the main cause is the 'Human Papillomavirus' (HPV).

Health officials say that administering this vaccine during adolescence, before sexual contact, is the most effective way to prevent cancer. Doctors suggest that to prevent this disease, which shows few symptoms in the early stages, besides vaccination, women over 30 years of age should undergo regular cervical cancer screening.

The government has been conducting vaccination campaigns targeting adolescents across the country through the national immunization program to reduce the burden of this disease.