KATHMANDU, Dec 30: The Department of Health Services has brought the 'Human Papillomavirus' (HPV) vaccine for cervical cancer for adolescent girls. Dr Pawan Jung Rayamajhi, Director of the Supply Management Division, confirmed that 496,280 doses of the vaccine were brought on Sunday.
The government previously brought the HPV vaccine twice and stored it in the storage facility in Teku. Director Rayamajhi said that the government sent the earlier vaccines to the provincial offices, and this batch will also be sent to them.
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The HPV vaccine has been brought to Nepal from China with the support of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI). The government will launch a vaccination campaign starting from February 5 to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer.
Dr Abhiyan Gautam, Chief of the Child Health and Immunization Division, stated that the 15-day campaign will vaccinate 16,88,900 girls aged 10 to 14, including those in grades 6 to 10 and out-of-school. He also mentioned that GAVI will provide 17, 70,000 doses to Nepal.
Every year, cervical cancer kills four women in Nepal. The human papillomavirus infection is the main cause of the increased risk of cervical cancer, making vaccination against it essential.
