Vision
The prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and asthma within the Nepali population is increasing largely due to lifestyle changes. In Nepal, every year different types of cancer are being detected warranting the need for new technology and increased efforts of health and civil societies. With the backdrop in mind, on 22 April, 2009, a group of social workers established the Nepal Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation (NACCF) with the objective of supporting cancer prevention and treatment activities.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women in Nepal (and in second worldwide). In 2010, the crude incidence and mortality rates for cervical cancer in Nepal were 24.2 and 12.9 per 100,000 women respectively. In comparison, the incidence and mortality rates in Australia were 9 and 2 per 100,000 women respectively. Cervical cancer is a preventable disease and the key reason for such stark differences in the rates between countries such as Australia and Nepal is the lack of effective screening and HPV vaccination programs in developing country like Nepal. Cervical cancer therefore became a major focus of the NACCF.
Promoting and facilitating screening and treatment for cervical and related women’s health issues in developing countries is an objective of the Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation (ACCF). A mutual desire is necessary to enhance women’s health by minimizing cervical cancer and related health issues in Nepal. In 2009, a partnership was formed and NACCF has established. The main emphasis of NACCF was administering of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine, Gardasil. After the great success of this program of HPV vaccination, NACCF is expanding its program to cover the cervical and breast cancer screening.