Over 17,000 adolescent girls being given HPV vaccine in Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur, Jan 14: A total of 17,691 adolescent girls in Bhaktapur are expected to get the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer.    

According to Shantiram Khatiwada, Chief of the District Public Health Office Bhaktapur, under the HPV vaccination nationwide campaign that will commence on February 4, girls aged 10 to 14 in the district will be vaccinated.    

Of four municipalities in the district, four thousand 162 girls in the Suryabinayak, six thousand 742 in the Bhaktapur, four thousand 203 in Madhyapur Thimi and two thousand 584 in the Chagunarayan will be vaccinated against the cervical cancer. Of them, 16 thousand 628 from grade six to 10 will be picked from schools and 1,063 who are out of schools will also be covered in the vaccination drive.    

As he said, the vaccine typically causes no side effects. However, in the rare event of any issues, the Bhaktapur Hospital, Khwopa Hospital, Surya Binayak Municipal Hospital, Changunarayan Municipal Hospital and Nepal Korea Friendship Municipality Hospital are prepared to respond.    

The government will be launching the campaign targeting 1,688,900 girls across the country, coinciding with the World Cancer Day on February 4. It will conclude on February 18.    

Studies show that the HPV vaccine can prevent up to 90-95 per cent cervical cancer cases. Cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in Nepal, followed by breast cancer.  (RSS)