KATHMANDU: To mark World Cancer Day, the Ministry of Health and Population has launched a nationwide initiative offering free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations to help prevent cervical cancer, starting today.

The school-centered vaccination campaign will take place across the country from February 4 to 18, 2025.

Its primary goal is to protect girls from cervical cancer, which is the most prevalent cancer among women in Nepal.

Approximately 1.7 million girls are expected to be vaccinated across the country, with the government targeting 1.688 million girls for this effort.

The campaign will focus on girls in grades 6 to 10 and those aged 10 to 14 who are not attending school.

Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, spokesperson for the Ministry, confirmed that the vaccination will be administered nationwide to girls in the specified age group.

“We have already conducted a pilot program, and it was successful. The Ministry, along with various local agencies, has worked hard to ensure the campaign’s effectiveness,” he said.

“The two-week campaign aims to ensure no girl in the targeted age group is missed or given the vaccine more than once.”

Dr. Abhiyan Gautam, Head of the Child Health and Vaccination Section under the Family Welfare Division, said that 18,900 school vaccination centers and 8,200 other vaccination points will be established.

The campaign will mobilize 27,080 health workers, 54,160 volunteers, and 15,674 supervisors to manage the process.