Bangladesh’s HPV vaccination campaign, launched in October 2023, began in Dhaka and expanded nationwide by October 2024, targeting girls aged 10–14. Registration through the VaxEPI system reached 5.6 million, with 4.8 million vaccinated—around 90% coverage. Key challenges included data gaps, birth registration barriers, underserved out‑of‑school populations, and vaccine hesitancy driven by misinformation. Field experience highlighted […]
Country: Bangladesh
Cancer registries – data collection, challenges and steps to strengthen registries and improve cervical cancer data collection – Bangladesh
Dr. Rifat Ara (Bangladesh) described the evolution of Bangladesh’s cancer registries, which remain primarily hospital-based since 2005, with no nationwide population registry. Data collection is mostly paper-based, with limited electronic tracking through screening programs for cervical and breast cancer. Challenges include lack of awareness, unequal access to care, inadequate reporting (especially from private facilities), and […]
Lessons Learned from Other Vaccination Programs: Measles Rubella vaccination experience in Bangladesh
Bangladesh delivers two routine measles-rubella vaccine doses at 9 and 15 months and supplements coverage with periodic campaigns. The immunization system operates through outreach sites in rural areas and urban centers, supported by web-based DHIS2 for microplanning, real-time reporting, GPS-based supervision, and public dashboards. Campaigns since 2005, including the 2020 follow-up that vaccinated 36 million […]
Overview of HPV related disease burden, mortality, social and economic impact – Bangladesh
Dr. Ferdousi Begum presented an overview of the HPV-related cancer burden in Bangladesh, emphasizing cervical cancer as a major public health issue alongside other HPV-linked cancers such as oropharyngeal, penile, and laryngeal cancers. She highlighted that approximately 60 million Bangladeshi women are at risk, with an estimated 8,000–10,000 cervical cancer cases and 5,000–6,000 deaths annually. […]
Cervical cancer screening in Bangladesh
Cervical cancer screening in Bangladesh targets ever-married women aged 30–60 using VIA as the primary method due to its cost-effectiveness and simplicity. While Pap smear, liquid-based cytology, and HPV DNA testing exist, they remain limited by cost and infrastructure. The national program, initiated through government and UNFPA collaboration, has expanded to 570 centers with over […]