KAVRE: More than 95% of female students in grades 6 to 10 in Kavrepalanchok have been vaccinated against HPV (Human Papillomavirus), a leading cause of cervical cancer.

Out of the target of 16,097 girls, 15,344, or 95.32%, have been vaccinated, as reported by the District Health Office in Dhulikhel.

The vaccination drive, part of the National Vaccination Program, took place from February 4 to 18 and aimed to prevent cervical cancer. The Government of Nepal approved the World Health Organization (WHO)-certified vaccine for girls in grades 6-10, as well as out-of-school girls aged 10 to 14.

Ragishree Kakshapati Shrestha, Office Chief, mentioned, “Some girls opted out of the vaccine, likely due to insufficient awareness, which is why we couldn’t achieve full coverage. Nevertheless, the campaign is largely considered a success.”

Girls from 252 community schools and 84 institutional schools in the district participated in the vaccination. Most of the 13 local levels in the district reached 99% of their vaccination goals.

The Ministry of Health reports that around 2,200 women in Nepal are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, with 1,300 of them succumbing to the disease.