80% girls receive HPV vaccines in Banke in seven days

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Feb. 12: Before the launch of the HPV vaccination campaign against cervical cancer, health officials in Banke were concerned about the success of the campaign among the Muslim and Madhesi communities.

However, after thorough preparations, the campaign saw a significant turnout of girls and adolescents from these communities at the vaccination centres, bringing a big sigh of relief to health workers.

Within the first seven days, 80 per cent of the target group in Banke district had received the HPV vaccine. Many girls from the Muslim and Madhesi communities participated enthusiastically.

Angad Bahadur Shahi, Chief of the Health Office Banke, stated that this time, girls from the Muslim and Madhesi communities showed great enthusiasm for the vaccine, reflecting increased awareness.

He said unlike previous vaccination campaigns, when the participation of members of these communities was lower, this time, their engagement was remarkable.

To achieve this, the Health Office had organised programmes with religious and social leaders from both communities before launching the campaign. These initiatives clarified the vaccine’s importance and addressed misconceptions.

As a result, the campaign has been running with great enthusiasm, according to Naresh Shrestha, the immunisation focal person at the Health Office Banke.

In the first phase of the campaign, conducted in Nepalgunj, Kohalpur, Khajura and Janaki, 19,782 girls received the HPV vaccine within seven days.

Of the 24,589 eligible girls in these municipalities, 19,782—80 per cent—have already been vaccinated. According to the Health Office, 7,512 girls were vaccinated in Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City, 5,896 in Kohalpur, 4,204 in Khajura, and 2,170 in Janaki.

The vaccination campaign, which began on February 4, aims to immunise around 37,000 adolescent girls in the district. According to the Health Office Banke, the campaign will continue until February 18, targeting girls from Grades 6 to 10 and those aged 10 to 14 who are out of school.