Cervical and Breast Cancer Screening Program Implementation Guideline 2077

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer of women in Nepal, accounting for 21.4 percent of all cancer among 34–64 year old women. The national guidelines on cervical cancer screening and prevention (2010) call for screening at least 50 percent of women aged 30–60 years and for reducing the mortality due to cervical cancer by 10 percent with recommended screening among this group every five years.

Cervical cancer screening is done by visual inspection of the cervix by trained nurses or doctors using acetic acid. This approach is cost-effective as the early detection of lesions and early management by cryotherapy will usually prevent progression to cervical cancer, and the cost of scaling up this activity is relatively low. Budget was allocated in all 753 palika’s to conduct the cervical cancer screening and prevention program and National coverage was achieved in 2074/75. (DoHS Annual report)