Cervical cancer prevention in Nepal: How important is HPV vaccination?

Cancer is now one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally as well as in Nepal. A recent study showed that, in the last decade, there has been a 26.3 per cent increase in new cancer cases and a 20.9 per cent increase in cancer deaths.

But, most cancers can be prevented if empirical knowledge on modifiable risk factors is appropriately used for policies and practices. To this end, particularly important is that we have clarity on which factors have the most impact on cancer risk, and which population groups to prioritise. Recent developments such as screening programmes and vaccination have been to a higher extent effective in the reduction of incidence of cervical cancer.