BANKE: A total of 3,119 girls in Banke have received the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine against cervical cancer within a week of the vaccination campaign.
According to the District Health Office, the vaccination campaign, which began on September 17, has targeted Grade 6 students and out-of-school girls aged 10 in the district.
The vaccine has so far been administered in five of the district’s eight local levels: Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City, Kohalpur Municipality, Khajura Rural Municipality, Janaki Rural Municipality and Duduwa Rural Municipality.
The district has set a target of vaccinating 4,380 Grade 6 girls and approximately 5,691 out-of-school girls aged 10. Devnarayan Upadhyay, the vaccination focal person at the District Health Office, said the campaign has been progressing effectively.
Upadhyay said the government has incorporated the HPV vaccine into the regular immunization programme and that vaccination before the onset of menstruation provides effective protection against HPV infection.
He said achieving vaccination coverage of more than 99 percent among the targeted girls would make a significant contribution to preventing cervical cancer.
According to health officials, an average of four women die from cervical cancer in Nepal every day. Last year, 33,759 people received HPV vaccination in Banke.
Cervical cancer is among the most common cancers affecting women in Nepal and is a major cause of cancer-related deaths. The HPV vaccine is considered highly effective in preventing HPV infections that can lead to cervical cancer. The government’s vaccination programme targets girls aged 9 to 14 years.
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