Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention (CCSP) Project

Karuna Foundation Nepal, in collaboration with Family Welfare Division and Koshi Provincial Health Directorate has been actively involved in addressing cervical cancer through the Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention (CCSP) project in eastern Nepal since 2017 with the financial support of the Female Cancer Foundation, the Netherlands. The project, initially launched in Ilam district and continued in Sunsari, that focuses on both demand creation and service strengthening through raising community awareness, capacity building of health workers including FCHVs, equipment support to the health facilities, screening campaigns execution through VIA methods, referral and facilitation for treatment.

The government has set ambitious targets to combat cervical cancer, aiming to achieve the SDG target of 90% screening by 2030, which is only possible through an incremental rate increase of 11-12% each year. Additionally, the 90-70-90 strategy focuses on vaccinating 90% of girls by age 15, screening 70% of women using high-performance tests by ages 35 and 45, and treating 90% of identified cervical disease cases, with the ultimate goal of reducing cervical cancer deaths by 30% by 2030. The Government of Nepal has recognized the importance of adopting newer and more effective screening methods and has decided to pilot HPV/DNA testing in selected municipalities of the country.  Thus, organization is working to support the government initiative through ensuring screening service continuity in all municipalities of Sunsari and piloting HPV-DNA testing at selected municipalities of Sunsari and Morang.

To address the challenges and achieve these targets, CCSP project will be continued in Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, Duhabi Municipality, Inaruwa Municipality of Sunsari district, and Biratnagar Metropolitan City of Morang district with the financial support of the Female Cancer Foundation, the Netherlands based on HPV DNA testing.  While screening service through VIA method continuation will be supported in all municipalities of Sunsari and Ilam district. The project aims to screen 86,000 women aged 30-59 years, which constitutes 80% of the total population within that target group by June 2025. Both parties have committed to fulfilling responsibilities outlined for the implementation of CCSP project.