Over 1.68 million girls between 10 and 14 will be administered the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine during a nationwide campaign, all set to be launched in the second week of February next year.

Officials at the Ministry of Health and Population said that they have started preparations for the nationwide drive after the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI) agreed to provide the required vaccine doses.

“All eligible girls aged between 10 and 14 years will be vaccinated during the campaign,” said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “The vaccine will be administered in two doses over a 12-month period, with one dose given at the start and the second after 12 months.”

Human papillomavirus is a viral infection that spreads through skin contact and is a major cause of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the second-most common cancer in the developing world and a major cause of death among Nepali women. It is estimated that hundreds of women get diagnosed with cervical cancer every year in Nepal.

According to the BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Bharatpur, more than 700 women suffering from cervical cancer seek treatment at the hospital every year.

Experts say early treatment prevents up to 80 percent of cervical cancer.

Doctors say most cases of cervical cancer are linked to s are associated with the HPV. Widespread immunisation could significantly reduce the impact of cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers worldwide.

Countries like Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Maldives have introduced HPV vaccines nationally, while India and Indonesia have introduced them in some districts.

In 2016, Nepal piloted HPV vaccines in Chitwan and Kaski districts. During the pilot programme, all girls aged between 11 and 13 were given two doses of the vaccine.

Last year, Nepal purchased 20,000 doses of the HPV vaccine and administered it to around 9,000 girls aged between 14 and 15 years from all seven provinces. Health authorities administered the vaccines at schools after other measures failed to increase vaccine uptake.

Officials estimate that 1,688,000 girls in the country are between 10 and 14 years old. In addition to vaccine doses, GAVI will also provide the Nepal government with operation costs. Gautam said that the Nepal government also has to pay a certain percent of the cost of the vaccine once it is included in the regular immunisation list.