The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Nepal has endorsed the National Eye Health Strategy 2079-2086 aims to ensure quality eye health services to Nepalese.
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World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day: Act Now. Act Together. Invest in Neglected Tropical Diseases
By Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia
To mark this year’s World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day, WHO is calling on countries and communities in the South-East Asia Region and across the world to confront the inequalities that drive NTDs, and to make bold, sustainable investments to help free the 1 billion people globally who are vulnerable to their devastating health, social and economic costs. NTDs are a diverse group of 20 conditions that are mainly prevalent in tropical areas.
Globally, they affect more than 1 billion people, cost low- and middle-income countries billions of dollars every year, and perpetuate a cycle of poor educational outcomes and limited professional opportunities, mostly for impoverished communities, where they disproportionately affect women and children. The WHO South-East Asia Region accounts for the second highest NTD burden globally. At least one NTD is endemic to each of the Region’s 11 Member States, and more than 938 million people in the Region require interventions against NTDs. In 2021, the Region accounted for 59% of the global population requiring interventions against lymphatic filariasis (LF), 66.5% of new cases of leprosy, and 56% of children requiring regular deworming against soil-transmitted helminthiases.
Since 2014, WHO has supported countries of the Region to make rapid, equitable and sustained progress against NTDs, in line with the Region’s Flagship Priority on eliminating NTDs and other diseases on the verge of elimination. In 2016 India was declared yaws-free. Maldives, Thailand and Sri Lanka have eliminated lymphatic filariasis (LF) as a public health problem. Bangladesh is currently being assessed for validation of elimination of LF as a public health problem, and Timor-Leste is now under post-treatment surveillance. Nepal and Myanmar have eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. All kala-azar-endemic implementation units in Bangladesh have now reached the elimination target, which India and Nepal are also close to achieving. India, Indonesia and Nepal continue to roll out triple drug therapy to accelerate action against LF, which Myanmar is also preparing to introduce. Between 2010 and 2020, the Region reduced the total number of people who require interventions against NTDs by a remarkable 20%.
Across the Region, new challenges and opportunities have emerged. In 2021, WHO launched a global NTD road map that aims to ‘End the neglect’, setting a series of global targets and milestones to prevent, control, eliminate or eradicate NTDs, as well as cross-cutting targets that are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. In implementing the road map, the Region aims to accelerate momentum on its Flagship Priority, with a focus on several priorities.
First, optimizing existing interventions and leveraging new innovations to overcome last-mile gaps and challenges. For LF, the expanded roll-out of triple drug therapy with effective coverage promises to fast-track elimination in the Region’s remaining three LF-endemic countries. For leprosy, increased access to post-exposure prophylaxis will accelerate progress at the sub-national level, increasing protection for at-risk communities. For kala-azar, intensified efforts to detect cases early and ensure complete case management will continue to contain transmission.
Second, sustaining elimination status in the post-validation phase. When a country is validated for elimination as a public health problem, continued actions are required to maintain the targets, and even to advance interruption of transmission. For this, it is critical that vigilance is sustained, that donor fatigue is avoided, and that stakeholders continue to invest in post-validation interventions such as surveillance platform integration and accelerating R&D of new tools and strategies to make further progress.
Third, expanding the range of priority NTDs. On an array of NTDs – kala-azar, LF, trachoma and yaws – the Region has made tremendous, path-breaking progress. But where appropriate, countries should increasingly broaden their scope, for example by intensifying action to address snakebite envenoming – for which a new Regional action plan has now been launched – as well as dog-mediated rabies, dengue, schistosomiasis and other parasitic zoonoses such as taeniasis, echinococcosis and food-borne trematodiases.
The countdown to 2030 has already begun. Since 2014, under the Region’s Flagship Priority, countries have made bold investments, and achieved game-changing results – results that must continue to be built upon.
On World NTD Day, WHO reiterates its commitment to accelerate the Region’s decade-long momentum to end the neglect, eliminate NTDs, and achieve a healthier, more equitable and sustainable future for everyone, everywhere.
New Delhi | January 29, 2023
The World Health Organization today called on countries in the South-East Asia Region and globally to urgently address gaps in leprosy services disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and to accelerate efforts towards zero leprosy infection and disease, zero leprosy disability, and zero leprosy stigma and discrimination -the vision of the WHO Global Leprosy Strategy 2021-2030. “Leprosy is 100 percent curable when detected early, yet today in addition to COVID-19 related challenges, stigma and discrimination- both institutionalized and informal, continue to impede prompt diagnosis and treatment and facilitate onward spread. This has to change,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia.
In 2021, 140 000 new leprosy cases were reported, with 95 percent of new cases coming from the 23 global priority countries. Of these, 6% were diagnosed with visible deformities or grade-2 disabilities (G2D). Over 6% of new cases were children under the age of 15, with 368 being diagnosed with grade-2 disabilities. Despite a 10% increase in new case reporting from 2020 to 2021, reported cases were 30% lower in 2021 than in 2019. This is not due to a decrease in transmission, but cases remaining undetected due to COVID-19-related disruptions. “Countries must continue to urgently restore leprosy services, with a focus on expanding single dose rifampicin chemoprophylaxis, intensifying active case finding, and ensuring prompt diagnosis and treatment with multidrug therapy,” said Dr Khetrapal Singh.
The Regional Director stressed on focusing attention on vulnerable populations, including women, children, immigrants, refugees, the elderly, the homeless, residents of deprived leprosy ‘colonies’ and those living in geographically inaccessible areas to end suffering and achieve zero leprosy. With at least 115 discriminatory laws reported to be in place in seven countries, WHO is calling on all countries to immediately and unequivocally revoke discriminatory laws and comply with and implement UN principles and guidelines for elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their families.
Over the past decade, strong progress was achieved in several key areas of leprosy prevention, treatment, and control globally, with new child case detection reduced by 27% between 2010 and 2019, visible deformities at time of diagnosis reduced by 23% between 2014 and 2019 and new child case detection rate reduced to 7.6 per million children as opposed to 9.8 in 2014. With up to 50% of persons affected by leprosy facing psychiatric morbidities such as depression, anxiety disorders and suicide attempts, countries should also increase access for persons affected by leprosy and their families to mental health care, a key feature of the Global Leprosy Strategy, along with scaling up diagnosis and treatment.“Persons affected by leprosy must be engaged, empowered and involved in all aspects of decision-making, including in service design and delivery, and in social and economic activities. For this, community-based organizations and networks should be supported, nurtured and included in decision-making processes while expanding services that strengthen livelihoods,” said the Regional Director.
“Act Now. End Leprosy.” is this year’s theme for World Leprosy Day. WHO reiterates its steadfast support to leprosy-affected countries in the South-East Asia Region and across the world to drive rapid, equitable and sustained progress towards our targets and goals, achieving zero leprosy infection and disease, zero leprosy disability, and zero leprosy stigma and discrimination by 2030.
“Leprosy has afflicted humanity for millennia; however, we can be the generation that ends the transmission of leprosy, end suffering, ensuring we leave no one behind, “said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh.
WHO developed a Refugee and migrant health toolkit, a web-based one-stop comprehensive platform of tools and resources, to support the global, regional, and country efforts in implementing health and migration-related activities.
Migration and displacement often impact people’s physical and mental health and well-being, especially for those who were forced to flee their homes. It can leave particular impact on people displaced across borders or within their own country and those in an irregular situation or with vulnerabilities and specific health and protection needs.
Refugee and migrants could face many factors such as their migratory status; national migration policies; and linguistic, cultural, economic, and social barriers that often hinder their access to health services.
It is essential that countries have strong and inclusive health systems equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to help decision-makers and health personnel meet the health needs and rights of these populations and advance the health and migration agenda.
“We developed the toolkit to assist countries in designing, developing, and implementing health and migration policies, strategies and services based on evidence and technical soundness,” said Dr Santino Severoni, Director of the WHO Health and Migration Programme. “We hope that Member States will use this single-source, operational and user-friendly toolkit in the implementation of health and migration-related activities, including the Global Action Plan (GAP) “Promoting the health of refugees and migrants, 2019-2023”, and regional action plans with similar goals.”
A one-stop source of information, guidance and tools
The toolkit contains modules for each of the six priorities of the GAP 2019-2023, along with 18 tools:
Each module includes a summary of key topics, a list of actions for consideration for stakeholders, links to the latest available guidance, case studies and reports, training materials, and other WHO publications on relevant themes. An introductory section provides essential knowledge concerning refugees’ and migrants’ health, addressing definitions, global trends, legal frameworks, and resolutions.
The tools are not prescriptive. They can be adapted to each specific context, region, and community to inform context-specific analysis and approaches to refugee and migrant health.
The go-to platform for policy-makers, planners, and implementers
WHO Member States, WHO country offices, United Nations partners, and nongovernmental actors working in refugee and migrant health can use the Refugee and migrant health toolkit to implement health programs that are truly equitable and inclusive and to evaluate and bolster national health plans and strategies that promote the health of refugees and migrants and host populations.
The 14th National Training of Trainers (NToT) on Peer Education & Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for Young People in Nepal.
Training Date: 12-17 February 2023
Details :
Y-PEER Nepal in support of partners Working Group on Disabilities and 2030 Agenda and YPEER Asia Pacific Center -Ypeer APand Robert Carr Fund, are pleased to announce the 14th National Training of Trainers of Y-PEER Nepal
All the selected applicants will be informed by 1st week of February 2023.
Apply at https://forms.gle/utpkUsgJWKpbo3oU6
Eligibility :
Cost:
Questions: Please write to fura@ypeernepal.org, info@ypeernepal.org send a message on Facebook page, YPEER-Nepal.
Australia Awards are prestigious international Scholarships and Short Courses funded by the Australian Government. Australia Awards equip recipients with the skills and knowledge to drive change and contribute to the economic and social development of their own countries.
All recipients of Australia Awards become part of the Australia Global Alumni network, connecting them to Australia and to each other — building an engaged and influential global network of leaders and advocates, and establishing a network of ambassadors for Australia and its first-class education system.
Scholarships applications for Master’s programs commencing in 2024 will open 1 February to 1 May 2023.
Scholarships support programs within these priority development sectors:
Check eligibility criteria including English language test requirements, and prepare to apply.
Please visit https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/aus-awards-scholarships-policy-handbook.pdf for a comprehensive list of general eligibility requirements.
Personal criteria:
Study program criteria:
Academic and work experience criteria:
English language test score criteria:
Women, people with disability, members of traditionally marginalised groups and public servants will be considered for eligibility with IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 or higher (with all band scores 5.5 or higher) or an equivalent TOEFL (Internet-based) or PTE (Academic) test score. However, if offered an Australia Awards Scholarship, these applicants must meet the English language requirements of their preferred university and degree before commencing study.
Applicants with disability who require testing accommodations are encouraged to register early for English language tests.
For any clarification, please contact the Australia Awards – Nepal office.
To learn more about Australia Awards Scholarships, applicants may attend the following information sessions and events. Please register here to attend.
READY TO APPLY? READ MORE
The World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day is observed on 30 January each year. The first-ever World NTD Day was celebrated on 30 January 2020. This international day is an opportunity to re-energize the momentum to end the suffering from these 20 diseases that are caused by a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins [Public Health Update]
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are widespread in the world’s poorest regions, where water safety, sanitation and access to health care are substandard. NTDs affect over 1 billion people globally and are caused mostly by a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins.
The Road map for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) 2021–2030
2023: the year to shine a spotlight on NTDs and the suffering they cause, and to call for comprehensive and universal care for those affected by them. It is our collective responsibility to confront inequalities and put an end to these diseases that are entirely preventable.
Access to medicines, diagnostics, and essential technologies for NTDs should be sustained and expanded, including through donations and research & development. Countries and NTD programmes must use innovations that emerged before and during the COVID-19 pandemic to address disruptions and delays caused to the delivery of services.
The WHO NTD road map 2021-2030 focuses on the value of integrating NTD programmes, establishing links with other sectors (education, nutrition, WASH, animal & environmental health), mainstreaming NTDs within health systems and primary health care services, and promoting country ownership and accountability.
With increased investment, action and collaboration, countries can beat NTDs. NTD programmes are cost-effective interventions and, with the added benefit of drug donations by pharmaceutical companies, the value for money and returns on investment are highly favourable.
Investment in NTDs is also an investment in reducing poverty, and in allowing people and their families to lead healthier, more economically productive lives. Sustainable funding is key to relieving the burden of NTDs.
5. Stay committed to the deliver on the NTD road map 2021-2030
Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, progress has been achieved during the two years since the publication of the 2021-2030 road map. Countries must continue their commitments to delivering quality NTD services to affected populations.
Source of info: WHO and NTD Day website
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The Government of Liberia, in collaboration with partners, is pleased to announce the abstract application for the 3rd International CHW Symposium is live. The 3rd CHW Symposium aims to facilitate the global exchange of knowledge and solutions to scale and sustain Community Health Programs in order to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The Symposium has a blended approach that prioritizes and fosters country learning and exchange and amplifies CHW voices and CHW-led advocacy. It aims to elevate country progress on, and accelerate political momentum for, professionalizing and institutionalizing CHWs. It will spotlight country examples of financing, accountability and governance models that show best practice for community health programming.
In order to achieve these goals, the Symposium team welcomes abstracts related to community health workers and/or other community-based and community-led service providers. Abstracts must be aligned to Symposium themes and tracks. Please reference the abstract guidelines for further details on content and logistical requirements. The application form is here. Please note the deadline for abstract applications is February 3rd, 2023. Please email abstract@chwsymposiumliberia2023.org with any questions.
Date: The 3rd International CHW Symposium will host participants on-site in Monrovia, Liberia from 22 – 24 March, 2023. Official Pre-Symposium activities will be held by invitation only on the 20th and 21st of March, 2023.
The 3rd CHW Symposium aims to facilitate the global exchange of knowledge and solutions to scale and sustain Community Health Programs in order to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The symposium will focus on sharing best practices on the complimentary and necessary systems to support scale.
Symposium objectives:
Registration opening date: Coming soon!
Virtual registration: will be available for speakers
Abstract Submission: Open now through 3 February 2023 (18:00 pm Eastern Standard Time)
Women’s Health Conference 2023 is the first conference in Nepal looking broadly at women’s health. Disparities, discrimination and development challenges put so many women at extreme risk. In order to address this, we need to consider the multifaceted nature of women’s health conditions and explore trends in this sector for a well informed and evidence guided future course of action.
The Conference aims to promote and strengthen the interconnectedness of research, training, policy making, practice and advocacy evidence to expand women’s health agenda in Nepal. To that end, it will provide a platform for participants to discuss and disseminate evidence on what works and what doesn’t work and how successful programs can be expanded to reach different groups in society.
The conference aims to:
Event Venue: Kathmandu, Nepal
Date: 9th – 10th March 2023
There will be five sub themes selected for parallel presentations. The details of the sub themes are as follows:
Sub Themes:
1. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)
2. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
3. Child, Adolescent, Elderly Health
4. Women’s Health in Humanitarian Setting
5. Nutrition
Conference organizer invites all interested persons/organizations to kindly prepare and submit an abstract under the sub-themes mentioned above. The following are the suggested broad areas that could be covered under the above sub themes:
The details of the abstract’s guidelines, submission and selection criteria are provided below:
Registration and More info: Official website
World Leprosy Day (WLD) is celebrated on the last Sunday of January but World Leprosy Day is celebrated on 30 January, the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s death in India.
In 2023, World Leprosy Day is Sunday 29 January. This international day is an opportunity to celebrate people who have experienced leprosy, raise awareness of the disease, and call for an end to leprosy-related stigma and discrimination.
The theme of World Leprosy Day 2023 is “Act Now. End Leprosy.” This year’s theme calls attention to three key messages:
World Leprosy Day takes place on Sunday 29 January*
#WorldLeprosyDay #LeaveNoOneBehind #EndStigma #ZeroDiscrimination #BeatLeprosy
Source of info: WHO
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