Cervical cancer takes 4 lives every day in Nepal

KATHMANDU: Cervical cancer, the second most common cancer among women in Nepal after breast cancer, causes the death of four people daily, with 2,169 new cases reported each year, according to Prakash Pathak, Public Health Officer at the District Health Office.

Of these cases, 61%—around 1,313 individuals—die annually due to cervical cancer.

The primary cause of this cancer is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), with 12 strains out of more than 200 being the leading culprits.

In response, a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign will be launched from Feb 4 to 11. The campaign aims to vaccinate 54,999 girls and young women in schools across all 15 local districts.

The initiative will involve 755 vaccination centers, 781 healthcare workers, and 1,515 volunteers. Among the 755 centers, 557 will be schools, 140 will be health facilities, and 40 will be external centers.

Following the World Health Organization’s recommendations, Nepal will vaccinate girls aged 10 to 14 years, with the goal of preventing cervical cancer by 2030.

Last year, 10,000 girls across seven provinces received the HPV vaccine.

Globally, cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most common cancer among women.

Every year, 570,000 women worldwide are diagnosed with cervical cancer, with 311,000 (55%) succumbing to the disease.