Kathmandu, Nepal: In February this year, the Government of Nepal, with support from Gavi, UNICEF and other partners, launched a nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, marking a significant step in protecting adolescent girls from cervical cancer.
By bringing vaccinations directly to schools and health facilities, the initiative ensured that girls in grades 6-10, as well as out-of-school adolescents aged 10-14, could access this life-saving protection.
To maximize outreach and impact, the campaign harnessed strategic Social and Behavior Change (SBC) approaches, combining social listening, door-to-door visits and co-creation workshops with innovative digital tools for data collection.
These efforts effectively tackled key barriers such as financial hardship, misinformation and social stigma, paving the way for greater vaccine acceptance. Insights gathered were shared with relevant authorities, enabling targeted interventions, including mobilizing community health workers, religious leaders and youth clubs to counter misinformation and build trust within communities.
Peer-led advocacy was certainly one of the most effective ways. Pushpa Rawat from Dailekh District, for instance, played a crucial role in expanding the campaign’s reach in her community.
After attending a co-creation workshop, she led efforts to ensure that all adolescent girls, including out-of-school youth, received the vaccine.
Among these girls was 14-year-old Bhawona Badi, who has faced multiple barriers in her life owing to an intellectual disability. Initially hesitant toward the HPV vaccine, it was Pushpa’s support that finally enabled her to overcome her fears and take the step toward vaccination.
Like Pushpa, Dhana BK, a 14-year-old who left school due to financial hardships, also learned about cervical cancer prevention at a UNICEF co-creation workshop. Motivated by what she had learned, she encouraged her peers to join the campaign. “Before the co-creation workshop, I didn’t know about cervical cancer. This workshop has increased my knowledge of both the virus and the vaccine,” she said.
In the case of Meena Raidas, a 13-year-old from Krishnanagar Municipality, it was door-to-door visits conducted through UNICEF-mobilized volunteers and other community awareness campaigns that gave her the confidence to receive the vaccine.
These stories from the HPV vaccination campaign in Nepal demonstrated the importance of evidence-based advocacy, community engagement, and scheduling flexibility in ensuring wide participation. By mobilizing local networks and integrating efforts from youth, health workers, and local authorities, the campaign successfully improved vaccine access for adolescent girls.
