In a milestone step towards cervical cancer elimination, Nepal has vaccinated over 1.46 million girls, through a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO and UNICEF, achieving 94% administrative coverage.
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Students from a public school in Kapilvastu, Lumbini Province, pose with joy after receiving the HPV vaccine. Photo credit: WHO Nepal/A.Maharjan
Launched on 4 February 2025, World Cancer Day, the campaign targeted adolescent school girls from grades 6-10, as well as out-of-school girls aged 10-14 years, under the multi-age cohort (MAC) approach. Following the campaign, the vaccine has been integrated into routine immunization of the National Immunization Program and will be provided each year to the routine cohort (grade 6 girls, or out-of-school girls of 10 years of age).
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Nepal’s Rt. Honourable Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli (middle) formally inaugurated the nationwide HPV vaccination campaign on 4 February 2025, World Cancer Day. Photo credit: WHO Nepal/A.Maharjan
Speaking at the campaign launch programme, Honorable Minister of Health and Population Pradip Paudel, said, "We are committed not only to providing curative services but also to preventing diseases for a healthier population. This HPV vaccination campaign is a vital step towards safeguarding the health and wellbeing of Nepalese adolescent girls, who represent the future of our nation."
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Nepal and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. In 2022, there were an estimated 2169 new cervical cancer cases and 1313 deaths related to cervical cancer in Nepal. Cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with HPV. A single dose of the HPV vaccine can offer high protection against HPV infections.
Aligned with the Global Strategy for Elimination of Cervical Cancer, the Government of Nepal aims to fully vaccinate 90% of girls aged 10-14 years with the HPV vaccine and ensure that at least 90% of women aged 30 to 49 years receive cervical cancer screening by 2030.
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Dr Balwinder Singh Chawla, Team Lead for Immunization Preventable Diseases (IPD) programme at WHO Nepal speaks at a high-level meeting held on 25 November 2024 for the introduction of the HPV vaccine. Photo credit: WHO Nepal/S.G.Amatya
To help achieve these targets, WHO has been providing continued technical support to the National Immunization Program for the introduction of the HPV vaccine. This support includes technical support to the National Immunization Advisory Committee (NIAC) on vaccine introduction, selection and schedule recommendations, contributing to policy decisions, development of application proposal and implementation plan, planning, implementation and monitoring of the HPV vaccination campaign.
Prior to the campaign, WHO provided technical assistance for conducting microplanning workshops, training vaccinators, and convening meetings of immunization coordination committees at the national and sub-national levels through its nationwide network of Surveillance and Immunization Medical Officers and Immunization Field Officers. WHO also supported to conduct advocacy meetings with different professional societies and associations, through which over 250 pediatricians, gynecologists, obstetricians and medical doctors from both government and private sectors were sensitized on the HPV vaccine introduction.
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A WHO team led by Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO Representative to Nepal (right) speak to families working in a brick kiln in Rupandehi district on the importance of HPV vaccination. Photo credit: WHO Nepal/A.Maharjan
Additionally, WHO trained and deployed over 250 independent monitors to conduct rapid convenience monitoring using a WHO-developed real-time app-based monitoring system which enabled the National Immunization Program to take immediate corrective actions as required during the campaign. As part of monitoring activities, WHO staff also visited vulnerable areas such as brick kilns, slums, factories, border areas and marginalized communities to identify girls who may have missed to get the HPV vaccine.
"WHO commends the Government of Nepal for this excellent initiative, which demonstrates the country's commitment to protecting girls from this preventable disease. This nationwide campaign, along with the integration of the HPV vaccine into the routine immunization, marks an important milestone in Nepal's immunization programme and the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases. It will undoubtedly save lives and reduce the burden of cervical cancer. WHO remains committed to supporting Nepal’s efforts to eliminate cervical cancer," said Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO Representative to Nepal.