Feb 08, Kathmandu - Health and Population Minister Dr. Sudha Gautam has emphasized that early detection and treatment can cure cervical cancer if caught in its initial stages. She announced the launch of a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign aimed at preventing the disease, which is a leading cause of cervical cancer among women.

In a video message marking the beginning of the campaign today, Minister Gautam urged all women over 30 to undergo regular cervical cancer screenings, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis. She reassured the public that the HPV vaccine is safe and encouraged everyone to get vaccinated without hesitation.

“Cervical cancer is primarily caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Vaccination against this virus can effectively prevent the disease,” she stated. The government has been running regular HPV vaccination campaigns since last year with the goal of eradicating cervical cancer in Nepal.

Starting today and continuing until Falgun 15 (mid-March), the government has begun administering the HPV vaccine nationwide to girls in Grade 6 and to 10-year-old girls outside school settings. Additionally, girls from Grade 7 to 10 and those aged 11 to 14 who missed previous doses will also receive the vaccine.

Minister Gautam emphasized the safety of the vaccine and its role in saving women’s lives, calling on parents to encourage their daughters to get vaccinated. Currently, an average of six women per day are diagnosed with cervical cancer in Nepal, with four succumbing to the disease daily.