HPV Vaccination Campaign to Target 6,000 Girls in Banke

Dragon Media Correspondent

An HPV vaccination campaign targeting around 6,000 girls will be launched in Banke to help prevent cervical cancer.

According to the District Health Office, Banke, the campaign will begin on Bhadra 30 and will be carried out across all eight local levels of the district. Girls studying in Grade 6 will be given priority in the first phase.

The campaign will then cover 10-year-old girls in the community who are not attending school. District Health Office Chief Sunita Poudel said preparations are underway in coordination with local governments, schools and health institutions to ensure the campaign is implemented effectively.

Certain types of human papillomavirus, or HPV, can cause cervical cancer. Vaccination during adolescence provides strong protection against future infection and significantly reduces the risk of developing cervical cancer.

Under Nepal’s current immunization program, eligible girls receive a single dose of the HPV vaccine. The same schedule will be followed during the campaign in Banke.

A meeting chaired by Banke District Coordination Committee Chief Gyanendra Kumar Chaudhary on Tuesday decided to move ahead with the necessary coordination and preparations for the vaccination campaign.