Nepal’s HPV vaccination campaign, launched on 4 February 2025, targeted 1.6 million girls (grades 6–10 and out‑of‑school girls aged 10–14), achieving 94% coverage with single‑dose Cecolin. The program utilized 18,900 schools and 8,200 health facilities, with 51,483 female community health volunteers and 27,000 health workers mobilized. Youth‑led advocacy, child clubs, and digital social listening strategies […]
Country: Nepal
Country Snapshots – Nepal
Nepal prioritizes HPV vaccination, planning nationwide introduction in February 2025 with Gavi support. Previous demonstrations in 2016/2017 and 2023 achieved high coverage, validating school-based delivery. The upcoming rollout targets multi-age cohorts (11–14 years) followed by routine immunization at 10 years, using Cecolin in a two-dose schedule. Implementation involves multi-level coordination and >50,000 community health volunteers […]
Cancer registries – data collection, challenges and steps to strengthen registries and improve cervical cancer data collection – Nepal
Dr. Pradip Gyanwali (Nepal) outlined Nepal’s cancer registry system, covering only 21% of the population through hospital‑ and population‑based networks. Cervical cancer ranks second among women, with screening uptake at just 16% and higher incidence in rural areas. Major challenges include fragmented reporting, lack of electronic records, and limited funding. He recommended digitization, nationwide registry […]
Lessons Learned from Other Vaccination Programs: Village Full Immunization Certification program in Nepal
The presentation by Sagar Dahal details Nepal’s Full Immunization Initiative (FID), which stems from the National Immunization Program (NIP) established in 1979. NIP now covers 13 antigens and prioritizes reaching every child, sustaining vaccine-preventable disease control, and ensuring local financial and operational ownership. Despite progress, challenges include coverage below 90%, dropout rates, and difficulties vaccinating […]
HPV related disease burden, mortality, social and economic impact – Nepal
Dr. Murari Man Shrestha (Nepal) presented the status of cervical cancer in Nepal, the leading cancer among women in the country. He described geographic and health‑system challenges—remote terrain, limited diagnostics, and incomplete data—while noting that incidence is likely underreported. Current estimates show over 2,200 annual cases and nearly 1,500 deaths, with high social and economic […]
Cervical cancer screening in Nepal
Nepal’s cervical cancer screening program, initiated in 2010, is embedded in its basic health service package, ensuring free access through public health facilities. Despite this policy, service availability remains limited, with only about 12% of facilities offering screening, predominantly VIA tests, and national coverage estimated at just 5.4%. Key milestones include the introduction of guidelines, […]