Key public health interventions highlighted during visit
- WHO Director-General Dr Tedros commended Nepal’s recognition of health as a basic human right in its constitution.
- WHO Director-General Dr Tedros lauded Nepal’s overall COVID-19 response and efforts to towards achieving Universal Health Coverage.
- Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh congratulated Nepal for introducing Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine and including it in the routine immunisation program, the first country in the Region to do so.
- WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Congratulates on Nepal’s efficient response to COVID-19, on reaching 70% vaccination target & on launching the first typhoid immunization campaign in WHO SEARO.
- WHO Director-General Dr Tedros commended Nepal’s strong commitment to #HealthForAll.
- Regional Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh commended #Nepal’s efforts in scaling up COVID-19 vaccination & being on track to achieve 70% coverage by mid-2022.
- Regional Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh congratulated Nepal for introducing typhoid conjugate vaccine in its routine immunization.
- Regional Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh commended the government’s commitment to address noncommunicable diseases through the endorsement of the Multisectoral Action Plan and the launch of SAFER Initiative.
- Regional Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh congratulated Nepal for prioritization of health in the national budget and noted how the investment has yielded tangible returns.
- Regional Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh highlighted the need to accelerate efforts for disease eliminations, reduction of maternal, neonatal and under five mortality and advancing UHC. #HealthForAll.
- WHO Director-General Dr Tedros and Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh felicitated for her leadership in COVID-19 response in the Region, by Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, Chairperson, National Assembly.
- WHO Director-General Dr Tedros thanked him for his advocacy for #HealthForAll & #PandemicAccord in the parliamentarian forum & for his support in advancing community engagement & risk communication in Nepal during #COVID19.
- WHO Director-General Dr Tedros commended the Nepal National Assembly Speaker’s closeness to the health sector. & Commended him for engaging parliamentarians for #COVID19, especially for creating awareness & countering misinformation & increase uptake on vaccines.
- WHO Director-General Dr Tedros congratulated Nepal for allocating over 9% of their budget to health, one of the largest in the Region.
Photos with key highlights
“Always a privilege to be in Nepal, pioneer of a number of health initiatives in WHO South-East Asia Region.” – Regional Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh.
Such a great experience visiting a school in Kathmandu, #Nepal, which is one of the #typhoid vaccination sites. This new vaccination campaign, the first in @WHOSEARO, is a combined effort by the government, teachers & parents, supported by @WHO, @gavi, @UNICEF. #LongLifeForAll
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
@DrTedros
On Mother #EarthDay I was pleased to plant a tree in #Nepal. May it be another symbol for a #HealthierTomorrow. Together, we can protect our planet and our health.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
@DrTedros
Happy to meet my ‘twin’ in #Nepal today. He likes to make fun of me, but he says he promotes me that way. Thank you for a good laugh and for bringing humor to people in the past two years, @gajureal. What we seriously agree on are – vaccines, tests & treatment for all & peace
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
@DrTedros
– Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WR, WHO Nepal
Photo Credit: WHO SEARO, WHO Nepal, Twitter, Facebook & other Social medias. Please feel free to contact if any copyright issues. Contact: [email protected]
22 April 2022 Joint News Release Nepal (WHO Nepal)
22 April 2022 | Kathmandu, Nepal – The Director-General of World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and WHO South-East Asia Regional Director, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, had a courtesy call with the Rt. Hon. President, Bidya Devi Bhandari, and Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, on day two of their visit to Nepal.
The WHO leaders were accompanied by WHO Representative to Nepal, Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, and Dr Shambu Acharya, Director of Department of Country Strategy and Support.
During the meeting, Rt. Hon. President, Bidya Devi Bhandari, highlighted the importance of multisectoral collaboration in improving health outcomes for the country.
Dr Tedros commended Nepal’s recognition of health as a basic human right in its constitution.
In their meeting with Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Dr Tedros lauded Nepal’s overall COVID-19 response and efforts towards achieving Universal Health Coverage.
Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh congratulated Nepal for prioritization of health in the national budget and noted how the investment has yielded tangible returns.
Prime Minister Deuba thanked WHO for its leadership in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and urged WHO to further support Nepal towards enhancing the capacity of healthcare workers, strategy development for elimination of cervical cancer, and introducing the HPV vaccine in the country.
The delegation also visited a school in Lalitpur to observe the ongoing Typhoid Conjugate Vaccination campaign. The campaign aims to reach 7.5 million children aged 15 months to 15 years with the vaccine and was launched with support from GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, and UNICEF on 7 April. With high vaccine acceptance across the nation, the campaign is progressing at a brisk pace.
The dignitaries then visited the genome sequencing laboratory at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Department of Health Services (DoHS). With the in-country capacity development of genome sequencing, Nepal is now able to rapidly identify high threat pathogens of public health concerns. It was through the lab at NPHL that the country detected its first case of the Omicron variant.DG congratulated the leadership at NPHL and DoHS for their accomplishments.
The WHO delegation had called upon Honorable Health Minister Birodh Khatiwada; Honorable Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Narayan Khadka; and Rt. Hon. Chairperson of National Assembly, Ganesh Prasad Timilsina; on 21 April.
WHO Director-General is here upon the invitation of Honorable Minister for Health and Population, Mr. Birodh Khatiwada. The visit will conclude on 23 April.
22 April 2022 Joint News Release Nepal (WHO Nepal)
