Feb 16, Kathmandu- 1.3 million girls have been vaccinated through the HPV vaccination campaign conducted by the Ministry of Health with the aim of protecting them from cervical cancer. The mentioned number of girls has been vaccinated till Saturday, the 12th day of the campaign, informed Dr. Bibek Kumar Lal, Head of the Family Welfare Division of the Department of Health Services.

Health Minister Pradeep Poudel has thanked all the health workers, volunteers, supporting schools, and all the fellow travelers for their tireless efforts to make the campaign a success so far. The campaign, which began on Magh 22, will continue until Falgun 6.

During the campaign, girl students studying in grades 6 to 10 and teenage girls aged 10 to 14 have been vaccinated through centers at the local level. In the coming period, those who have been missed will be identified and vaccinated, informed Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health. The target is to vaccinate about 1.7 million teenage girls during the campaign.

After taking office, Minister Poudel's first decision was to approve the National Cancer Control Strategy. Since then, the decision to extend cancer treatment to all seven provinces has been implemented. The plan and priorities announced by Minister Poudel to promote preventive methods against cancer are mentioned. Accordingly, a program to vaccinate teenage girls has been taken forward, said Spokesperson Budhathoki.

The number of women who die due to cervical cancer in Nepal is high. Minister Poudel's secretariat has stated that preventive programs are also being carried out as part of a plan to reduce this problem by providing vaccination at an early age.