subashpoudel/news-articles · Datasets at Hugging Face

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/05/miscarriage-grief-gets-no-support-at-home-or-hospital

2025-09-06 07:04:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

Nepali women who miscarry get no support at home or hospital

Aarati Ray

2025-09-05

Kathmandu

Kriti, 33, from Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur, had always wanted a daughter. When her son turned five, she and her husband decided to try for a second child. In March 2021, she became pregnant. “We were overjoyed for the new little one to join the family,” she recalls. But, just 10 weeks later, she miscarried at home. “I was in so much pain, sitting in the bathroom, bleeding, and with every drop, I felt my baby’s life slipping away.” Later, when she went for a check-up at Civil Hospital in New Baneshwar, a gynaecologist brushed off her grief. “You still have a son, right? So what’s there to worry about? There’s no issue with the uterus; in a few weeks, you can conceive again.” Kriti, who the Post is identifying with a pseudonym for privacy, was told by everyone to ‘try again,’ and had her loss treated as if it didn’t matter. “From my in-laws and relatives to doctors, nobody seemed to understand. I wasn’t even allowed to cry or mourn properly. Everyone said I could conceive again soon. But what about the child I lost?” Stories like Kriti’s are common in Nepal, says mental health expert Bina Shrestha from Mankaa Kura, a mental healthcare platform providing online counselling. Grief tied to miscarriage or terminated pregnancy due to foetal anomaly is often invisible, pushed aside at home, ignored in families, and trivialised in hospitals. This ‘silenced grief’ when women are denied the space to mourn openly leaves them vulnerable to lasting mental health problems, says Shrestha. Globally, there are an estimated 23 million miscarriages annually, which means 44 pregnancy losses each minute. The Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2022 found that 9 percent of women aged 15–49 have experienced miscarriage. At Paropkar Maternity and Women’s Hospital in Thapathali, Kathmandu, 522 women received emergency PAC (Postabortion Care) in fiscal year 2023-24, for complications from miscarriage or unsafe abortion. “We don’t have exact data, as many women experience them at home and only a fraction come to the hospital,” said information officer Ranu Thapa at the maternity hospital. Following the gynaecologist’s remark that she could again conceive soon, her in-laws pressured Kriti to try for another pregnancy. She became pregnant again in September 2021. “Everyone around me was so happy. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the baby I had lost,” adds Kriti. She suffered sleeplessness, loneliness, and depression. Every change in her body from the new pregnancy reminded her of her loss. Whenever she tried to share, people told her she was being ‘too emotional’, so she stopped talking about it altogether. Research backs her experience. A 2021 Lancet (international medical journal) editorial based on three research articles on miscarriage noted that the condition is too often managed in silence. It pointed out that both health systems and society treat miscarriage as something inevitable. This approach, the journal noted, creates a culture where women are told to ‘just try again,’ while the emotional impact of miscarriage is overlooked. The result: women are left unsupported, even as miscarriage increases the risk of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicide. When Kriti’s daughter was born, she struggled to bond with her. Later, she went to see a psychologist and was diagnosed with PTSD and depression. Grief is often described in five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, a framework first introduced by Swiss American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. But in the case of miscarriage, women either don’t get the space to go through these phases or must navigate these stages alone, says Parbati Shrestha, project coordinator and counsellor at TPO (Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation), a mental health organisation. Instead of support, many face blame, she adds. Families accuse women of eating the wrong food, skipping medicine, or somehow causing the loss. The same was the case with Sudhira (name changed for privacy), from Khariyani in Janakpur, who lost her baby at 14 weeks. After the loss, she started hearing rumours that she had caused the miscarriage by eating something wrong and not being careful. “I wanted to talk to someone and share my experience, but I realised if I spoke, they would only blame me more,” said Sudhira. The practice of barring women who miscarry from touching pregnant women or newborns in her village further led her to stay silent. Now the mother of a three-year-old son, Sudhira says the memory of her lost baby still troubles her. “I haven’t been able to move on… I never got the chance to grieve properly.” Most hospitals offer little to no mental health counselling for pregnant women, and almost none for those who experience miscarriage, say experts. Some hospitals make referrals to a psychiatrist or a psychologist only if gynaecologists see a need. “Although our gynaecology and obstetrics department does not have dedicated mental health counselling units,” says Jamun Prasad Singh, director at the Janakpur Provincial Hospital, “gynaecologists refer patients experiencing distress, infertility, or pregnancy loss to the psychiatry department, which has two psychiatrists and one psychologist.” Civil Service Hospital follows the same process, according to Jitendra Pariyar, head of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology. Yet the referral culture and active screening of women who have lost babies seem weak. Kriti, who visited Civil Hospital for consultations, was never informed that she could see a psychologist. It was the same for Sudhira, who sought post-abortion care at Janakpur Provincial Hospital. Psychologist Shrestha says this is common across hospitals. What hospitals call ‘counselling’ is often limited to medical advice, like when to try conceiving again after loss, rather than covering the ensuing emotional upheaval and the management process. There are signs of change, though. Last year, Paropakar Maternity Hospital at Thapathali started a mental health unit with a psychiatrist and a psychosocial counsellor. Psychiatrist Pratistha Ghimire says the programme has offered group counselling to 170 patients, including those with early pregnancy loss or subfertility. But for patients like Laxmi (Nani) Thapa, a lawyer and psychologist who has endured three pregnancy losses, even Paropakar Hospital feels unsafe. “Even in spaces like Paropkar meant to support solely motherhood, dignified care is largely absent,” she says. During her third pregnancy loss, Thapa struggled to climb to the fourth floor as she was bleeding. When she tried to use the lift, a security guard pushed her out, saying it was “only for the sick.” She recalls another incident from last year when she was five months pregnant. Unable to remove her shoes fully because of extreme back pain and swelling, she kept her feet hanging off the bed. The ultrasound staff scolded her rudely for that, saying, “Is this your maternal uncle’s house? Should we open your shoes, queen?” Then another male staff member ridiculed, “Are you even sick? What kind of patient are you?” In government hospitals, such humiliating experiences are common for pregnant women or those experiencing loss, Thapa adds. Thapa explains that silenced grief following pregnancy loss is widespread as hospitals and medical practices fail to recognise pregnancy or loss as a condition requiring special care. “People think, ‘Giving birth and experiencing miscarriage is normal; everyone goes through it,’” she says. “As a result, women’s grief is rarely taken seriously by society or the medical system.” Even government policies reveal an imbalance. Shrestha from TPO points out that while paid maternity leave is guaranteed after childbirth, women who experience miscarriage get no such benefit. A mother’s identity, psychologist Shrestha from Mankaa Kura adds, is tied so tightly to the presence of a living child that when pregnancy ends in miscarriage, her grief is disregarded. Even though miscarriage brings the same intense physical and emotional pain as labour, she gets none of the rest or support she would have if she had carried the pregnancy to term. Shrestha stresses that gynaecologists should listen to women who have experienced miscarriage, asking about their emotional well-being instead of offering remarks like, “You can try again in two or three months.” Referrals to counsellors or psychologists are ideal, but even simple, empathetic communication can provide support. Just as new mothers are taught about breastfeeding after delivery, women who miscarry should be guided through the grieving process and taught strategies for emotional regulation during hospital visits, adds Shrestha, program coordinator at TPO. Experts suggest hospitals should actively screen women who have experienced miscarriage for mental health issues and refer them to the mental health department for counselling. Kriti, who still continues therapy, says it was only in therapy that someone finally acknowledged her loss. “For the first time, someone said, ‘I’m sorry for your loss’ instead of the usual, ‘You can try again,’” said Kriti. “If my gynaecologist had offered that kind of concern during my pregnancy visits, I don’t think my condition would have worsened.”

Miscarriage in Nepal

The Silent Grief of Miscarriage and the Need for Support

['miscarriage' 'Nepal' 'mental health' 'pregnancy loss' 'grief' 'support' 'counselling']

0.7

Negative

['miscarriage' 'anxiety' 'depression' 'post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)']

['Civil Hospital in New Baneshwar' 'Paropkar Maternity and Women’s Hospital in Thapathali' 'Janakpur Provincial Hospital' 'Civil Service Hospital']

['Mankaa Kura' 'TPO (Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation)']

['Kriti' 'Bina Shrestha' 'Elisabeth Kübler-Ross' 'Parbati Shrestha' 'Sudhira' 'Ranu Thapa' 'Jamun Prasad Singh' 'Jitendra Pariyar' 'Pratistha Ghimire' 'Laxmi (Nani) Thapa']

['Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur' 'Nepal' 'Kathmandu']

[]

['paid maternity leave']

9,295

4

10

2

3

1

0

4

{'Mankaa Kura': 'Positive', 'TPO (Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation)': 'Positive'}

{'Bina Shrestha': 'Neutral', 'Elisabeth Kübler-Ross': 'Neutral', 'Jamun Prasad Singh': 'Neutral', 'Jitendra Pariyar': 'Neutral', 'Kriti': 'Negative', 'Laxmi (Nani) Thapa': 'Negative', 'Parbati Shrestha': 'Neutral', 'Pratistha Ghimire': 'Neutral', 'Ranu Thapa': 'Neutral', 'Sudhira': 'Negative'}

{'paid maternity leave': 'Negative'}

{'Civil Hospital in New Baneshwar': 'Negative', 'Civil Service Hospital': 'Negative', 'Janakpur Provincial Hospital': 'Negative', 'Paropkar Maternity and Women’s Hospital in Thapathali': 'Neutral'}

{'Mankaa Kura': 0.8, 'TPO (Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation)': 0.9}

{'Bina Shrestha': 0, 'Elisabeth Kübler-Ross': 0, 'Jamun Prasad Singh': 0, 'Jitendra Pariyar': 0, 'Kriti': -0.8, 'Laxmi (Nani) Thapa': -0.9, 'Parbati Shrestha': 0, 'Pratistha Ghimire': 0, 'Ranu Thapa': 0, 'Sudhira': -0.7}

{'paid maternity leave': -0.8}

{'Civil Hospital in New Baneshwar': -0.8, 'Civil Service Hospital': -0.7, 'Janakpur Provincial Hospital': -0.7, 'Paropkar Maternity and Women’s Hospital in Thapathali': 0.2}

Both

{'anxiety': 'to be addressed', 'depression': 'to be addressed', 'miscarriage': 'not addressed', 'post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)': 'to be addressed'}

['Suryabinayak', 'Bhaktapur', 'Nepal', 'New Baneshwar', 'Thapathali', 'Kathmandu', 'Janakpur', 'Khariyani']

8

{'Bhaktapur': ['miscarriage', 'depression', 'PTSD', 'anxiety', 'suicide'], 'Dhanusha': ['miscarriage', 'depression', 'PTSD', 'anxiety', 'suicide'], 'Kathmandu': ['miscarriage', 'depression', 'PTSD', 'anxiety', 'suicide']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/04/nepali-spine-surgeon-wins-prestigious-srs-global-fellowship

2025-09-04 17:55:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

Nepali spine surgeon wins prestigious SRS global fellowship

Post Report

2025-09-04

null

Dr Prakash Sitoula, an Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon and Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, has been awarded the Robert B Winter Global Outreach Fellowship by the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) for 2025. This highly prestigious and competitive international fellowship makes Dr Sitoula the first spine surgeon from Nepal to receive the honour. As part of the programme, he will undergo six weeks of advanced training in spinal deformity surgery at an SRS-accredited centre. He has chosen Pellegrin Hospital in Bordeaux (Spine Unit 1) as his training destination, recognising its global reputation for managing spinal deformities. “With spinal surgery still in its developmental stage in Nepal, this training will significantly enhance my ability to provide high-quality care to patients with spinal deformities in my home country,” said Dr Sitoula. Dr. Sitoula completed his MBBS at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan, Nepal, before pursuing an Orthopaedic Residency at Kathmandu University. He later undertook an advanced two-year Complex Spine Fellowship in Sydney, Australia, where he received comprehensive spine surgery training.

Professor Sitoula Receives Robert B Winter Global Outreach Fellowship

Scoliosis Research Society Recognition

['Robert B Winter Global Outreach Fellowship' 'Scoliosis Research Society' 'Spinal Deformity Surgery' 'Dr. Prakash Sitoula' 'Nepal']

0.8

Positive

['spinal deformity']

['Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital' 'Pellegrin Hospital']

['Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)' 'Kathmandu University']

['Dr Prakash Sitoula']

['Nepal' 'Bordeaux' 'Dharan' 'Sydney' 'Australia']

[]

1,208

1

2

5

0

2

{'Kathmandu University': 'Neutral', 'Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Prakash Sitoula': 'Positive'}

{'': 'Neutral'}

{'Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital': 'Positive', 'Pellegrin Hospital': 'Positive'}

{'Kathmandu University': 0.1, 'Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)': 0.8}

{'Dr Prakash Sitoula': 0.8}

{'': 0}

{'Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital': 0.8, 'Pellegrin Hospital': 0.7}

Physical

{'spinal deformity': 'to be addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Bordeaux', 'Sydney', 'Australia', 'Dharan']

5

{'Kathmandu': ['spinal deformities']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/03/task-force-hands-autism-guideline-draft-to-health-ministry

2025-09-03 21:41:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

Task force hands autism guideline draft to health ministry

Post Report

2025-09-03

Kathmandu

The Autism Directive Taskforce submitted the draft of the National Autism Guideline to the Ministry of Health and Population on Monday. The taskforce, headed by Deepak Prakash Mahara, was assigned to prepare a national framework ensuring the care, education and rights of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The draft recognises autism as a major public health challenge and stresses multi-sectoral coordination for its management. The document sets out a phased plan engaging all three tiers of government. At the federal level, it calls for a National Autism Committee to oversee policy, law and investment issues. The report wants the provinces to establish resource centres to run awareness and training programmes, while local governments are expected to allocate budgets for early screening, diagnosis and therapy through female community health volunteers. It also recommends early identification from 12 months, formal diagnosis by trained specialists, autism-friendly teaching methods for inclusive education, and lifelong support such as vocational training, job opportunities and independent living arrangements. To ensure sustainability, the draft promotes collaboration with private and non-governmental organisations, along with financial support, health insurance coverage and disability identity cards for affected families. Receiving the draft, Health Minister Paudel described it as a “milestone” and pledged to advance discussions at the highest levels. He said a special autism school is being developed in Budhanilkantha in coordination with Autism Care Nepal Society, with plans to set up similar schools in all provinces. He also urged private sector involvement in autism care.

Autism Directive Taskforce

National Autism Guideline

['autism' 'health policy' 'education' 'rights' 'spectrum disorder' 'public health challenge' 'multi-sectoral coordination' 'awareness' 'training' 'diagnosis' 'therapy' 'inclusion' 'sustainability' 'private sector involvement']

0.85

Positive

['Autism Spectrum Disorder' 'ASD']

[]

['Autism Care Nepal Society']

['Deepak Prakash Mahara' 'Paudel']

['Budhanilkantha']

[]

['National Autism Guideline' 'National Autism Committee']

1,719

2

1

2

0

{'Autism Care Nepal Society': 'Positive'}

{'Deepak Prakash Mahara': 'Positive', 'Paudel': 'Positive'}

{'National Autism Committee': 'Positive', 'National Autism Guideline': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Autism Care Nepal Society': 0.8}

{'Deepak Prakash Mahara': 0.8, 'Paudel': 0.9}

{'National Autism Committee': 0.7, 'National Autism Guideline': 0.8}

{}

Mental

{'ASD': 'addressed', 'Autism Spectrum Disorder': 'addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Budhanilkantha']

2

{'Kathmandu': ['Autism Spectrum Disorder']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/03/cholera-cases-near-200-in-parsa

2025-09-03 19:25:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

Cholera cases near 200 in Parsa

Shankar Archarya

2025-09-03

Parsa

Despite efforts to control the ongoing cholera outbreak in Birgunj, cases continue to rise in Parsa district, with 180 confirmed infections. According to data released by the Birgunj Metropolitan City on Tuesday evening, 180 people have tested positive for cholera within Birgunj alone. Of them, 11 patients are still undergoing treatment in different hospitals, while 169 have already been discharged. Hospitals across Birgunj reported that 913 people with diarrhoeal diseases, including cholera, sought treatment by Tuesday evening. Among them, 843 have been discharged, while 70 remain hospitalised. In addition, the number of cholera cases in Pokharia Hospital has reached 17, bringing the total for the district to 197. Dr Uday Narayan Singh, spokesperson at Narayani Hospital, said the hospital typically treats 8-10 diarrhoeal patients daily during this season. This year, however, the numbers have surged, though free treatment continues for all patients. Some are discharged after only an hour or two of care. Authorities are concerned about the steady rise in new cases. To prevent further spread, Birgunj Metropolitan City has closed all educational institutions for a week. Meanwhile, tests have ruled out contamination in both tap water and deep bore water sources, leaving residents confused and anxious about the outbreak’s origin.

Cholera Outbreak in Birgunj

Rise in cases in Parsa district

['cholera outbreak' 'Birgunj Metropolitan City' 'Parsa district' 'diarrhoeal diseases' 'Narayani Hospital' 'contamination' 'tap water' 'deep bore water sources']

0.65

Negative

['cholera' 'diarrhoeal diseases']

['Pokharia Hospital' 'Narayani Hospital']

['Birgunj Metropolitan City']

['Dr Uday Narayan Singh']

['Birgunj' 'Parsa district']

[]

['closure of educational institutions for a week']

1,352

2

1

2

1

0

2

{'Birgunj Metropolitan City': 'Negative'}

{'Dr Uday Narayan Singh': 'Neutral'}

{'closure of educational institutions for a week': 'Neutral'}

{'Narayani Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Pokharia Hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'Birgunj Metropolitan City': -0.6}

{'Dr Uday Narayan Singh': 0}

{'closure of educational institutions for a week': 0}

{'Narayani Hospital': 0, 'Pokharia Hospital': 0}

Physical

{'cholera': 'addressed', 'diarrhoeal diseases': 'addressed'}

['Birgunj', 'Parsa district', 'Pokharia']

3

{'Parsa': ['cholera', 'diarrhoeal diseases']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/07/cholera-cases-stabilise-in-birgunj-rise-in-pokhariya

2025-09-07 15:52:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

Cholera cases stabilise in Birgunj, rise in Pokhariya

Shankar Acharya

2025-09-07

null

Cholera cases in Birgunj have remained stable for over two weeks, while infections in Pokhariya are gradually increasing. According to the District Health Office, two new patients were admitted to Pokhariya Hospital in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases there to 16. In Birgunj, however, no new cases have been reported during the same period, with the tally holding steady at 192. With the latest figures, the total number of cholera cases in Birgunj and Pokhariya has reached 208. Of these, 198 patients have already been discharged after treatment, while 10 are still undergoing care. Hospital records show that 1,116 people suffering from diarrhoea and cholera have been admitted to health facilities in the region so far. Among them, 1,037 have recovered and returned home. Of the 79 patients currently under treatment, five are in ICU, one in HDU, and 73 in general wards. In the past 24 hours alone, 39 new cases of diarrhoeal diseases, including cholera, have been recorded across the district.

Cholera outbreak in Birgunj and Pokhariya

Health situation in the region

['Cholera' 'Birgunj' 'Pokhariya' 'Diarrhoea' 'Hospitals' 'Treatment']

0

Neutral

['cholera' 'diarrhoea']

['Pokhariya Hospital']

['District Health Office']

[]

['Birgunj' 'Pokhariya']

[]

1,031

2

0

1

2

0

1

{'District Health Office': 'Neutral'}

{}

{'': 'Neutral'}

{'Pokhariya Hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'District Health Office': 0}

{}

{'': 0}

{'Pokhariya Hospital': 0}

Physical

{'cholera': 'addressed', 'diarrhoea': 'addressed'}

['Birgunj', 'Pokhariya']

2

{'Parsa': ['cholera', 'diarrhoea']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/03/snakebites-killed-74-people-since-mid-april

2025-09-03 17:58:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

Snakebites killed 74 people since mid-April

Post Report

2025-09-03

null

On Tuesday night, seven people—four women and three men—were taken to the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital for the treatment of snakebites. Doctors say most of the victims are either from the Kathmandu Valley or adjoining districts. “Snakebite is still the number one cause of admission in our hospital,” said Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula, director at the hospital. “Around 10 snakebite victims are currently receiving inpatient care in our hospital, and seven to eight seek emergency care every day.” Snakebites and resulting deaths are common in Nepal, especially during summer. Each year, around 2,700 people, mostly children and women from Nepal’s Tarai region, die of snakebites, according to a March 2022 report published in The Lancet, a leading international medical journal. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 74 people have succumbed to snakebites since Baishakh (mid-April) this year. Experts say that official figures could be just the tip of the iceberg, as many victims do not reach health facilities. “Some people die on the way to health facilities, and many others in their sleep,” said Dr Sanjib Kumar Sharma, rector at the Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, who is also a snakebite expert at the World Health Organisation. “Most victims were women and children bitten while working in fields or playing outdoors. Such people may not reach the health facility in time, so they do not appear in government records.” Health ministry officials say that around 80 percent of snakebite victims die before reaching hospitals. People living in thatched-roof houses are also highly vulnerable, as snakes visit such homes in search of rats. The Ministry of Health and Population provides anti-snake venom free of cost through health facilities, but still scores of people are dying every year. Doctors say the government's responsibility does not end with ensuring availability of anti-venom in health facilities or launching awareness drives. “Health facilities must be in accessible areas, and victims should be assured of free treatment,” said Sharma. “Critical patients require advanced life support systems. Efforts should be made to ensure a life support system for serious cases.” While health facilities are ill-equipped and short of anti-snake venom, there is also a lack of awareness among people in rural areas who often visit faith healers instead of a physician seeking treatment for snakebite. Doctors say the conservative belief is the primary reason for many snakebite deaths. Experts see a greater need for raising awareness about keeping homes and surroundings clean, preventing children from playing in bushes and avoiding walking at night. If absolutely necessary, people must use torchlights while walking in the dark. Of late, highly venomous snakes, generally found in the Tarai region's tropical climate, have also started appearing in hilly and mountainous areas. Dozens of venomous snakes have been rescued from Kathmandu Valley since the start of summer this year. Experts say global warming may be pushing venomous snakes from the Tarai into hilly and mountainous districts, where they were previously never found. Nepal is among the world’s most vulnerable countries to the climate crisis and has witnessed multiple extreme weather events over the past decade and a half. Evidence suggests that maximum temperatures in Nepal are rising at a faster rate of 0.056 degrees Celsius a year, compared to the global average rise of 0.03 degrees Celsius a year. Compared to districts of the Tarai region, those in hills and mountains have been witnessing a more rapid increase in daytime maximum temperatures, which could have helped venomous snakes to survive there, according to the experts.

Snakebites in Nepal

Rising cases and deaths due to snakebites

['Snakebites' 'Nepal' 'Snakebite deaths' 'Health facilities' 'Awareness' 'Climate change']

-0.85

Negative

['snakebite']

['Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital']

['The Lancet' 'National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority' 'World Health Organisation' 'Ministry of Health and Population']

['Dr. Yuba Nidhi Basaula' 'Dr. Sanjib Kumar Sharma']

['Kathmandu Valley' 'Nepal' 'Tarai region' 'Dharan' 'Koirala Institute of Health Sciences']

['anti-snake venom']

[]

3,795

1

2

4

5

0

1

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Neutral', 'National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority': 'Neutral', 'The Lancet': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr. Sanjib Kumar Sharma': 'Neutral', 'Dr. Yuba Nidhi Basaula': 'Neutral'}

{'No Policy': 'Neutral'}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 0, 'National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority': 0, 'The Lancet': 0, 'World Health Organisation': 0}

{'Dr. Sanjib Kumar Sharma': 0, 'Dr. Yuba Nidhi Basaula': 0}

{'No Policy': 0}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 0}

Physical

{'snakebite': 'addressed'}

['Kathmandu Valley', 'Tarai region', 'Nepal']

3

{'Kathmandu': ['snakebite'], 'Sunsari': ['snakebite']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/02/maternal-perinatal-death-surveillance-to-expand-to-nine-districts

2025-09-02 19:37:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

Maternal, perinatal death surveillance to expand to nine districts

Post Report

2025-09-02

Kathmandu

The causes of maternal and perinatal deaths will be investigated in nine more districts from this fiscal year, thanks to the United Nations Population Fund, which has agreed to fund the extension of the programme. Officials hope that the investigation of the actual cause of maternal and perinatal deaths will help reduce the ongoing deaths of mothers and babies. “Health workers will investigate if a particular death could have been prevented, or if human error was responsible for the deaths,” said Nisha Joshi, a public health officer at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “We requested the UNFPA for help, which it agreed to. Measures will be taken to prevent the deaths.” Maternal and perinatal death surveillance is a key intervention for improving maternal, perinatal, and neonatal survival. Experts say such surveillance helps identify the causes of death. The World Health Organisation said that maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response (MPDSR) is an essential quality improvement intervention, which permits the identification, notification, quantification and determination of causes and avoidability of maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths with the goal of orienting the measures necessary for their prevention. According to the UN health body, systematic analyses of overall mortality trends, as well as events and contributing factors leading to individual deaths, can identify barriers in health systems and inspire local solutions to prevent such deaths in the future. “The primary goal of MPDSR is reducing future preventable maternal mortality through a continuous action and surveillance cycle followed by the interpretation of the aggregated information on the findings, which is used for recommended actions to prevent future deaths,” says the WHO. Nepal has committed to reducing maternal and neonatal deaths, but the MPDSR programme has not been implemented nationwide. So far, the programme has been implemented in 54 districts. Officials say maternal and perinatal deaths are monitored only in the districts that have implemented the MPDSR programme. In the fiscal year 2024-025, 190 maternal deaths were reported from 54 districts. With the programme now set to be launched in nine additional districts, the number of districts with maternal and perinatal death surveillance services will reach 63. “We will impart master trainer training to four health officials of each district,” said Joshi. “Those trained will share their knowledge with other health workers serving in the respective districts.” Earlier, division officials had told the Post that they would not propose expanding the maternal and perinatal death surveillance programme in the new fiscal year’s budget, citing budget ceilings. The government has allocated Rs95.81 billion for the health sector for the upcoming fiscal year—Rs9.57 billion more than the allocation for the current fiscal year and around Rs13 billion over the ceiling set during budget preparation. Despite the increase in budget size, funds were not allocated for this programme, due to which officials had to request the UN agency. Maternal health experts say that without the MPDSR programme, ongoing maternal and perinatal deaths cannot be effectively prevented. Excessive bleeding after childbirth, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (pregnancy-related high blood pressure disorders) have been identified as some of the major causes of maternal deaths in Nepal. Likewise, prematurity (neonates born at less than 37 weeks' gestation), birth asphyxia (a condition in which a baby does not receive enough oxygen before, during, or directly after birth), and sepsis (organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection) are considered major reasons for neonatal deaths. Maternal and child health experts say unless the causes of deaths of mothers and babies are determined, it is impossible to reduce the mortality rates. This makes maternal and perinatal death surveillance extremely important, according to them. Nepal has reduced maternal deaths by over 70 percent since 2000, according to a report by the World Health Organisation. The UN health body, in its report, stated that currently 142 Nepali women die from maternity-related complications per 100,000 live births. A previous study carried out by the National Statistics Office in 2021 had shown 151 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Similarly, neonatal mortality now stands at 16.6 per 1,000 live births, and the stillbirth rate has decreased to 13.5 per 1,000 births. The Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022, carried out by the Ministry of Health and Population, showed that 21 neonates die per 1,000 live births. The health target under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is to reduce the maternal mortality rate to 75 for every 100,000 births by 2030. The SDGs, which follow on from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), aim to end poverty and hunger and all forms of inequality in the world by 2030, and Nepal has committed to meeting the goals.

Maternal and Perinatal Deaths

Investigation and Prevention in Nepal

['Maternal deaths' 'Perinatal deaths' 'Investigation' 'Prevention' 'Nepal' 'UNFPA' 'MPDSR programme' 'Maternal health' 'Neonatal health']

0.83

Positive

['maternal death' 'perinatal death' 'high blood pressure disorders' 'prematurity' 'birth asphyxia' 'sepsis' 'excessive bleeding']

[]

['United Nations Population Fund' 'World Health Organisation']

['Nisha Joshi']

['Nepal']

[]

['Sustainable Development Goals' 'Millennium Development Goals']

5,066

7

1

2

1

2

0

{'United Nations Population Fund': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive'}

{'Nisha Joshi': 'Positive'}

{'Millennium Development Goals': 'Neutral', 'Sustainable Development Goals': 'Positive'}

{}

{'United Nations Population Fund': 0.8, 'World Health Organisation': 0.9}

{'Nisha Joshi': 0.6}

{'Millennium Development Goals': 0.2, 'Sustainable Development Goals': 0.8}

{}

Physical

{'birth asphyxia': 'addressed', 'excessive bleeding': 'addressed', 'high blood pressure disorders': 'addressed', 'maternal death': 'addressed', 'perinatal death': 'addressed', 'prematurity': 'addressed', 'sepsis': 'addressed'}

['Nepal']

1

{ "location_by_disease": {} }

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/01/suicide-toll-in-nepal-slightly-declined-in-last-fiscal-year

2025-09-02 06:44:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

Cases of suicide in Nepal see a slight decline

Post Report

2025-09-01

Kathmandu

As many as 6,866 people died by suicide in Nepal in the fiscal year 2024-025, a slight decline from 7,223 in the previous fiscal year 2023-24. According to data provided by Nepal Police, on average, 18 people are taking their lives every day. Of the total suicide incidents in the last fiscal year, the number of adult males was higher compared to females—3,704 males and 2,308 females. However, the number of female children was more than twice that of male children, 594 and 260, respectively. Hanging was the primary cause of suicide, 5,798, while 961 people consumed poison to end their lives. “The curve seen in the suicide trend is encouraging, but still thousands of people are killing themselves every year,” said Dr Phanindra Baral, chief of the mental health section at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. “We need to do a lot to lessen the ongoing trend of suicide.” Nepal is among the countries with the highest suicide rates. Police data show that 6,993 people killed themselves in the fiscal year 2022-023, followed by 6,792 in the fiscal year 2021-022. As many as 7,117 people took their own lives in the fiscal year 2020-021, during which the country witnessed the second and third wave of the Covid pandemic. Reducing one-third of premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention, treatment and promotion of mental health and well-being is among the UN-backed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets to which Nepal is committed. Experts say the suicide rate is an indicator of premature mortality within the SDGs, which are a follow-up to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). When the government committed to the SDGs in 2015, around 16 people took their own lives every 24 hours. The government had committed to reducing the suicide rate to 9.7 per 100,000 each year by 2022, but this number rose to 24, and last year it increased further to 25. The government aims to reduce the suicide rate to 4.7 per 100,000 population by 2030 to meet the SDG targets, which experts say is impossible based on the ongoing trend of suicides. Health officials concede that the country is nowhere close to achieving the SDG target on suicide. To reach the target, a multisectoral approach, initiatives and massive funding are required. Mental health experts say people do not attempt suicide for any single reason, but rather due to a complex mix of factors, including the rising cost of living and the struggle to manage even their most basic needs such as food, housing, healthcare, and job security. Even individuals who appear healthy on the outside could also be struggling with serious mental health problems, experts say. Whatever the cause, suicides and suicide attempts have a ripple effect, impacting not only the individual but also families, friends, colleagues, communities, and societies. A study carried out by the Nepal Health Research Council before the start of the pandemic shows that more than 10 percent of the adult population had mental issues in their lifetime, and 4.3 percent were undergoing some form of mental crisis. The prevalence of suicidality, including current suicidal thoughts, past suicide attempts, and a future likelihood of suicidal thoughts, was found to be prevalent in 7.2 percent of the population. “People generally do not like to talk about mental health issues due to the social stigma and lack of awareness,” said Dr Ananta Adhikari, former director at Nepal Mental Hospital. “To tackle the growing mental health problems, authorities have to adopt multisectoral approaches.” Meanwhile, officials at the Ministry of Health and Population said they are aware of the growing burden of mental health issues and rising suicide rate, and have been taking various measures to address the problems. According to officials, various mental health programmes have been launched in local units, including screening for mental health problems and training for health workers, teachers, and female community health volunteers. Awareness campaigns have been launched, and health facilities have been strengthened to provide basic services for mental health problems. “A lot of efforts have been made and various initiatives have been taken,” said Adhikari. “But despite all we have done, people are dying every hour. To prevent this, we need to do more, invest more in mental health programmes.” The World Health Organisation says one in four people in the world are affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives, and around 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill health and disability worldwide. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the following helplines. Nepal Mental Hospital suicide hotline: 1166 Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital suicide prevention hotline: 9840021600: Patan Hospital crisis helpline for suicide prevention: 9813476123 The Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation: 16600102005

Suicide Rates in Nepal

Nepal's Ongoing Struggle with High Suicide Rates

['Suicide Rates' 'Nepal' 'Mental Health' 'SDGs' 'Suicide Prevention' 'Mental Health Issues']

-0.8

Negative

['suicide']

['Nepal Mental Hospital' 'Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital' 'Patan Hospital']

['Nepal Police' 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division' 'United Nations' 'World Health Organisation' 'Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation' 'Nepal Health Research Council' 'Ministry of Health and Population']

['Dr Phanindra Baral' 'Dr Ananta Adhikari']

['Nepal']

[]

['Sustainable Development Goals' 'Millennium Development Goals']

5,015

1

2

7

1

2

0

3

{'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 'Neutral', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Neutral', 'Nepal Health Research Council': 'Neutral', 'Nepal Police': 'Neutral', 'Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation': 'Neutral', 'United Nations': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Ananta Adhikari': 'Neutral', 'Dr Phanindra Baral': 'Neutral'}

{'Millennium Development Goals': 'Negative', 'Sustainable Development Goals': 'Negative'}

{'Nepal Mental Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Patan Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 0, 'Ministry of Health and Population': 0, 'Nepal Health Research Council': 0, 'Nepal Police': 0, 'Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation': 0, 'United Nations': 0, 'World Health Organisation': 0}

{'Dr Ananta Adhikari': 0, 'Dr Phanindra Baral': 0}

{'Millennium Development Goals': -0.6, 'Sustainable Development Goals': -0.7}

{'Nepal Mental Hospital': 0, 'Patan Hospital': 0, 'Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital': 0}

Mental

{'suicide': 'to be addressed'}

['Nepal']

1

{ "location_by_disease": { "Kathmandu": ["suicide", "mental health problems", "mental disorders"], "Lalitpur": ["suicide", "mental health problems", "mental disorders"] } }

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/08/31/bara-man-dies-in-birgunj-as-cholera-toll-climbs-to-four

2025-09-01 07:21:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

Bara man dies in Birgunj as cholera toll climbs to four

Post Report

2025-08-31

Birgunj

A 37-year-old man from Bara district who was infected with diarrheal disease, died on Saturday, while receiving treatment at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj. With this, the number of people dying from diarrheal infection since the outbreak of cholera in Birgunj Metropolitan City some 10 days ago has reached four. “The patient died yesterday,” said Dr Chuman Lal Das, director at the hospital. “The patient had an acute kidney injury and an intestinal infection.” Cholera is a highly infectious disease that causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and death within a few hours if left untreated. The National Public Health Laboratory has confirmed that Vibrio cholerae o1 Ogawa serotype is responsible for the outbreak. According to the Health Office, Parsa, 821 people from various wards of the metropolis and nearby local units and districts had been hospitalised with diarrheal infections as of 10 am on Sunday. Thirty-one newly infected patients sought treatment on Sunday morning. On Saturday, 90 infected people were hospitalised. The Health Office said that 17 seriously ill patients have been receiving intensive care, and six have been admitted to the high-dependency unit. Health workers serving in the disease-hit areas complain of exhaustion due to continuous deployment. “We have been exhausted due to continuous work,” said Das. “Healthworkers, including doctors, have complained of burnout.” The health workers said that the spread of the infection has slowed but not stopped. The metropolis has extended the shutdown of academic institutions until Tuesday. Public health experts say the ongoing Birgunj outbreak is the largest since the Jajarkot incident in 2009. Sixteen years ago, the far-western district of Jajarkot saw a major cholera outbreak that killed several and infected hundreds. Experts say that the outbreak of cholera exposes critical gaps in the government’s preparedness and response system, and water and sanitation conditions. Experts are particularly alarmed by both the severity of the outbreak and the deaths it has caused. Nepal often witnesses outbreaks of water- and food-borne diseases, including cholera, during the monsoon season as floodwaters contaminate most of the drinking water sources. Last year, at least 95 cholera cases were confirmed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Jajarkot, Pyuthan, Makawanpur, Rolpa, Sindhupalchok, Achham, and Rautahat districts. Experts say poor sanitation and hygiene make the country remains highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, and cholera, especially in the monsoon season. They say the risk of waterborne diseases will not decrease until the country’s water and sanitation conditions improve, and people get safe drinking water. Several other factors, including storage conditions, supply pipes, and pollution of water sources, also impact the quality of water supplied to households. “Awareness drives and health education play a vital role in containing the outbreak, and the general public must be informed about what is happening in their surroundings and what precautionary measures to take,” said Dr Baburam Marasini, former director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. “Authorities must invest in improving water and sanitation conditions.” The World Health Organisation says cholera is a global threat to public health, and a multifaceted approach is key to controlling the disease and reducing deaths. Meanwhile, officials at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services said they have been exploring the possibility of a vaccine against cholera to contain the spread. “We have discussed this with the representatives from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation,” said Dr Bibek Kumar Lal, division director. “A proposal for a vaccine has not been prepared yet. We must improve water and sanitation conditions and strengthen our health system to be eligible for the vaccine.” The Health Ministry administered cholera vaccines to people from affected areas of Kapilvastu, Rautahat, and Kathmandu a few years ago.

Cholera Outbreak in Birgunj

Health Crisis in Nepal

['cholera' 'Nepal' 'Birgunj' 'diarrheal disease' 'water-borne disease' 'public health crisis']

-0.65

Negative

['diarrheal disease' 'cholera' 'intestinal infection' 'acute kidney injury' 'typhoid' 'hepatitis' 'dysentery']

['Narayani Hospital']

['Health Office' 'Health Ministry' 'Family Welfare Division' 'Department of Health Services' 'Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation' 'World Health Organisation' 'National Public Health Laboratory']

['Dr Chuman Lal Das' 'Dr Baburam Marasini' 'Dr Bibek Kumar Lal']

['Bara district' 'Birgunj' 'Birgunj Metropolitan City' 'Parsa' 'Kathmandu' 'Lalitpur' 'Jajarkot' 'Pyuthan' 'Makawanpur' 'Rolpa' 'Sindhupalchok' 'Achham' 'Rautahat']

['cholera vaccine']

[]

4,125

7

3

7

13

0

1

{'Department of Health Services': 'Neutral', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Neutral', 'Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation': 'Neutral', 'Health Ministry': 'Neutral', 'Health Office': 'Neutral', 'National Public Health Laboratory': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Baburam Marasini': 'Neutral', 'Dr Bibek Kumar Lal': 'Neutral', 'Dr Chuman Lal Das': 'Neutral'}

{'': 'Neutral'}

{'Narayani Hospital': 'Negative'}

{'Department of Health Services': 0, 'Family Welfare Division': 0, 'Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation': 0, 'Health Ministry': 0, 'Health Office': 0, 'National Public Health Laboratory': 0, 'World Health Organisation': 0}

{'Dr Baburam Marasini': 0, 'Dr Bibek Kumar Lal': 0, 'Dr Chuman Lal Das': 0}

{'': 0}

{'Narayani Hospital': -0.5}

Physical

{'acute kidney injury': 'addressed', 'cholera': 'addressed', 'diarrheal disease': 'addressed', 'dysentery': 'not addressed', 'hepatitis': 'not addressed', 'intestinal infection': 'addressed', 'typhoid': 'not addressed'}

['Bara district', 'Birgunj', 'Parsa', 'Jajarkot', 'Kathmandu', 'Lalitpur', 'Pyuthan', 'Makawanpur', 'Rolpa', 'Sindhupalchok', 'Achham', 'Rautahat', 'Kapilvastu', 'Birgunj Metropolitan City']

14

{'Achham': ['cholera'], 'Bara': ['diarrheal disease', 'cholera'], 'Jajarkot': ['cholera'], 'Kapilvastu': ['cholera'], 'Kathmandu': ['cholera'], 'Lalitpur': ['cholera'], 'Makwanpur': ['cholera'], 'Parsa': ['diarrheal disease'], 'Pyuthan': ['cholera'], 'Rautahat': ['cholera'], 'Rolpa': ['cholera'], 'Sindhupalchok': ['cholera']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/08/28/birgunj-s-cholera-spreads-to-neighbouring-areas-and-bara

2025-08-28 18:59:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

Birgunj’s cholera spreads to neighbouring areas and Bara

Post Report

2025-08-28

Kathmandu

At least 13 people from Pokharia Municipality in Parsa district have tested positive for cholera, which has been spreading across various wards of the nearby Birgunj Metropolitan City and other surrounding local units. Some diarrheal patients at the provincial hospital in Kalaiya, in the neighbouring Bara district, have also tested positive for cholera. “Though the pace of the spread of cholera has slowed, people are still getting infected with this potentially deadly disease,” said Dr Prakash Budhathoki, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population. “Relevant agencies under all three tiers of government—federal, provincial and local—are working round the clock to contain the outbreak.” Cholera is a highly infectious disease that causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and death within a few hours if left untreated. Three people have died and over 600 have been infected, as of Thursday evening. Over three dozen are receiving intensive care at various hospitals, and nearly 300 are hospitalised. The National Public Health Laboratory has confirmed that Vibrio cholerae o1 Ogawa serotype is responsible for the outbreak. Health workers serving in the affected areas said that the disease has spread to adjoining local units and the neighbouring Bara district. “Containing the spread of cholera in communities is the biggest challenge for us,” said Dhani Singh, public health official at the Public Health Office, Parsa. “We have been taking all necessary control measures, but ensuring safe drinking water to the public and preventing disease transmission from infected patients remains difficult.” Public health experts say the ongoing Birgunj outbreak is the largest since the Jajarkot incident in 2009. Sixteen years ago, the far-western district of Jajarkot saw a major cholera outbreak that killed several and infected hundreds. Experts say that the outbreak of cholera exposes critical gaps in the government’s preparedness and response system, and water and sanitation conditions. Experts are particularly alarmed by both the severity of the outbreak and the deaths it has caused. Nepal often witnesses outbreaks of water- and food-borne diseases, including cholera, during the monsoon season as floodwaters contaminate most of the drinking water sources. Last year, at least 95 cholera cases were confirmed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Jajarkot, Pyuthan, Makawanpur, Rolpa, Sindhupalchok, Achham, and Rautahat districts. Last year also, the outbreak was caused by Vibrio cholerae 01 Ogawa serotype, which was found in stool samples of those infected. Experts say poor sanitation and hygiene make the country remains highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, and cholera, especially in the monsoon season. They say the risk of waterborne diseases will not decrease until the country’s water and sanitation conditions improve, and people get safe drinking water. Several other factors, including storage conditions, supply pipes, and pollution of water sources, also impact the quality of water supplied to households. “Awareness drive and health education plays a vital role in containing the outbreak, and the general public must be informed about what is happening in their surroundings and precautionary measures,” said Dr Baburam Marasini, former director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. “Authorities must invest in improving water and sanitation conditions.” The World Health Organisation says cholera is a global threat to public health, and a multifaceted approach is key to controlling the disease and reducing deaths. Meanwhile, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division said that all necessary preventive measures have been taken to control the spread of cholera to other parts of the country. “We have very good coordination with provincial and local health authorities,” said Dr Chandra Bhal Jha, director of the division. “Our expert team is still in the disease-hit area and guiding provincial and local health authorities. Another team comprising senior officials from the WHO will reach there tomorrow [Friday].” Officials from the division have also discussed the need for cholera vaccination with the World Health Organisation’s Nepal representatives. “The WHO team will assess the situation and take further decisions regarding vaccination,” said Jha. “If the spread of the disease in the community continues, we will have to administer the vaccine to the at-risk population.” The Health Ministry administered cholera vaccines to people from affected areas of Kapilvastu, Rautahat, and Kathmandu a few years ago to contain the further spread of the disease.

Cholera Outbreak in Nepal

Birgunj Metropolitan City and surrounding areas

['cholera' 'Vibrio cholerae o1 Ogawa serotype' 'waterborne diseases' 'outbreak' 'Nepal' 'monsoon season' 'public health' 'prevention' 'vaccination']

-0.6

Negative

['cholera']

['provincial hospital in Kalaiya']

['Ministry of Health and Population' 'National Public Health Laboratory' 'Public Health Office' 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division' 'World Health Organisation' 'WHO']

['Prakash Budhathoki' 'Dhani Singh' 'Baburam Marasini' 'Chandra Bhal Jha']

['Pokharia Municipality' 'Parsa district' 'Birgunj Metropolitan City' 'Bara district' 'Kathmandu' 'Jajarkot' 'Lalitpur' 'Pyuthan' 'Makawanpur' 'Rolpa' 'Sindhupalchok' 'Achham' 'Rautahat']

['cholera vaccine']

[]

4,704

1

4

6

13

0

1

{'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 'Neutral', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Neutral', 'National Public Health Laboratory': 'Neutral', 'Public Health Office': 'Neutral', 'WHO': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral'}

{'Baburam Marasini': 'Neutral', 'Chandra Bhal Jha': 'Neutral', 'Dhani Singh': 'Neutral', 'Prakash Budhathoki': 'Neutral'}

{'': 'Neutral'}

{'provincial hospital in Kalaiya': 'Neutral'}

{'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 0, 'Ministry of Health and Population': 0, 'National Public Health Laboratory': 0, 'Public Health Office': 0, 'WHO': 0, 'World Health Organisation': 0}

{'Baburam Marasini': 0, 'Chandra Bhal Jha': 0, 'Dhani Singh': 0, 'Prakash Budhathoki': 0}

{'': 0}

{'provincial hospital in Kalaiya': 0}

Physical

{'cholera': 'not addressed'}

['Pokharia Municipality', 'Parsa district', 'Birgunj Metropolitan City', 'Kalaiya', 'Bara district', 'Jajarkot', 'Kathmandu', 'Lalitpur', 'Pyuthan', 'Makawanpur', 'Rolpa', 'Sindhupalchok', 'Achham', 'Rautahat', 'Kapilvastu']

15

{'Achham': ['cholera'], 'Bara': ['cholera'], 'Jajarkot': ['cholera'], 'Kapilvastu': ['cholera'], 'Kathmandu': ['cholera'], 'Lalitpur': ['cholera'], 'Makwanpur': ['cholera'], 'Parsa': ['cholera'], 'Pyuthan': ['cholera'], 'Rautahat': ['cholera'], 'Rolpa': ['cholera'], 'Sindhupalchok': ['cholera']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/08/27/scrub-typhus-cases-spike-in-kathmandu

2025-08-27 20:56:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

Scrub typhus cases spike in Kathmandu

Arjun Poudel

2025-08-27

Kathmandu

Of the 23 fever patients tested at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital on Tuesday, 10 or 44 percent were diagnosed with scrub typhus. Doctors at the hospital termed the positivity rate alarmingly high. And what concerns them more is that a significant number of infected patients are from the Kathmandu Valley. Until a few years ago, it was believed that only those residing in rural areas or those working in grasslands or fields were at high risk. “Positivity rate above 30 percent indicates a high transmission level, meaning there is widespread exposure to the potentially deadly disease,” said Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula, director at the hospital. “If patients do not get timely treatment, the disease affects multiple organs and patients fall into a coma and die. Scrub typhus, or bush typhus, is a potentially fatal infectious disease caused by the parasite Orientia tsutsugamushi, a mite-borne bacterium. It spreads to humans when bitten by infected chiggers (larval mites) found on mice. A 12-year-old girl from Siddheshwar in ward 1 of Rainadevi Chhahara Rural Municipality, Palpa, died of scrub typhus a few days ago. The deceased was initially treated with medicines from a local pharmacy, but was later taken to the Ruru Primary Health Centre in Gulmi after her health deteriorated. The victim lost consciousness on the way and was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital. Some patients at Sukraraj Hospital are in intensive care, while others are in general wards. Along with Sukraraj, several hospitals, including Patan Hospital and Bir Hospital, have recently reported a surge in scrub typhus cases. “Patients from the Kathmandu Valley and referred cases visit our hospital every day,” said Dr Dilip Sharma, director Bir Hospital. Dr Samita Panta Acharya, medical director at Patan Hospital, said five to six scrub typhus patients seek treatment daily. “The number of scrub typhus infections has risen over the years,” said Acharya. Scrub typhus is the second leading vector-borne disease in Nepal after dengue, which infects thousands every year and causes several deaths. The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division reported that over 5,000 people have tested positive for scrub typhus since January. In the fiscal year 2024-25, at least 16,597 people across the country were infected with scrub typhus. Of the total cases of infection, Lumbini province recorded 4,322 cases, the highest number in the country, followed by Sudurpaschim province (3,746 cases), Karnali (2,539), Koshi (2,119), Bagmati (1,838), Gandaki (1,725) and Madhesh province (308). Some infected people have died, but the actual number is not known, as most health facilities lack a proper system to determine causes of death. “People may have died from complications caused by scrub typhus, but doctors often report that patients died of multi-organ failure,” said Dr Gokarna Dahal, chief of the Vector Control Section at the division. “Due to a lack of a proper system to confirm causes of deaths, we cannot say how many deaths were caused by scrub typhus.” The actual number may be higher, as all cases of infection do not enter government records. Nepal saw a surge in scrub typhus cases after the 2015 earthquakes that killed nearly 9,000 persons across the country. Three months after the quakes, the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, alerted the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division about six children with unusual fevers and severe respiratory problems. Serum samples were collected for subsequent tests in Kathmandu and Bangkok, which confirmed a scrub typhus outbreak. By then, four children had already died in the course of treatment. By the end of the year, 101 cases were confirmed in 16 districts, and four more people succumbed to the disease. The outbreak escalated in 2016, when 831 cases were reported in 47 districts, and 14 people died by the end of that year. According to the Ministry of Health and Population data, 1,026 people were infected with the disease in 2020. The number increased to 1,999 in 2021, and to more than 2,900 in 2022. In 2023, over 5,000 people were infected. Doctors say the risk of severity and fatality can be minimised if patients are diagnosed and treated early. Common antibiotics, such as doxycycline and azithromycin, which are on the government’s essential drugs list and distributed free to health facilities across the country, can cure the disease. However, what is concerning is that many health workers, including doctors, lack sufficient knowledge about diagnosing scrub typhus. Many health facilities also lack reagents to carry out tests for the disease. Doctors can diagnose the disease based on the symptoms, but the risk of misdiagnosis is high, as scrub typhus symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses. Waiting for lab results before starting treatment can be dangerous as results may take about a week, during which time patients can fall into coma and suffer multi-organ failure. Symptoms include high fever, headache, abdominal pain, backache, joint and muscle pain, red rash, nausea and vomiting. Patients with severe illness may develop bleeding, which could lead to organ failure. Severe cases may include respiratory distress, inflammation of brain, lungs, kidney failure and multi-organ failure. If not treated immediately, the infection can be fatal, warn doctors.

Scrub Typhus Outbreak

Rise in Cases and Fatalities in Nepal

['Scrub Typhus' 'Nepal' 'Outbreak' 'Fatalities' 'Infectious Disease' 'Vector-Borne Disease']

0.7

Negative

['scrub typhus' 'dengue' 'multi-organ failure']

['Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital' 'Ruru Primary Health Centre' 'Patan Hospital' 'Bir Hospital' 'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences']

['Epidemiology and Disease Control Division' 'Ministry of Health and Population']

['Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula' 'Dr Dilip Sharma' 'Dr Samita Panta Acharya' 'Dr Gokarna Dahal']

['Kathmandu Valley' 'Nepal' 'Rainadevi Chhahara Rural Municipality' 'Palpa' 'Gulmi' 'Lumbini province' 'Sudurpaschim province' 'Karnali' 'Koshi' 'Bagmati' 'Gandaki' 'Madhesh province' 'Bangkok' 'Dharan']

['doxycycline' 'azithromycin']

[]

5,375

3

4

2

14

0

2

5

{'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 'Neutral', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Dilip Sharma': 'Neutral', 'Dr Gokarna Dahal': 'Neutral', 'Dr Samita Panta Acharya': 'Neutral', 'Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula': 'Neutral'}

{'No Policy': 'Neutral'}

{'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences': 'Neutral', 'Bir Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Patan Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Ruru Primary Health Centre': 'Negative', 'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 0, 'Ministry of Health and Population': 0}

{'Dr Dilip Sharma': 0, 'Dr Gokarna Dahal': 0, 'Dr Samita Panta Acharya': 0, 'Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula': 0}

{'No Policy': 0}

{'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences': 0, 'Bir Hospital': 0, 'Patan Hospital': 0, 'Ruru Primary Health Centre': -0.8, 'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 0}

Physical

{'dengue': 'not addressed', 'multi-organ failure': 'to be addressed', 'scrub typhus': 'addressed'}

['Kathmandu Valley', 'Palpa', 'Gulmi', 'Lumbini province', 'Sudurpaschim province', 'Karnali', 'Koshi', 'Bagmati', 'Gandaki', 'Madhesh province', 'Nepal']

11

{'Bhaktapur': ['scrub typhus'], 'Gulmi': ['scrub typhus'], 'Kathmandu': ['scrub typhus'], 'Lalitpur': ['scrub typhus'], 'Palpa': ['scrub typhus'], 'Sunsari': ['scrub typhus']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/08/27/no-budget-for-je-vaccine-health-ministry-spends-millions-on-unproven-ayurvedic-tonic

2025-08-27 08:46:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

No budget for JE vaccine, health ministry spends millions on unproven ayurvedic tonic

Post Report

2025-08-27

Kathmandu

At least 15 people, mostly unvaccinated, have died of infection with the Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus in the past one month. The virus is the number one killer disease spread by a vector, the Culex mosquito. Vaccination is a proven and effective method to contain the spread of the deadly disease and resulting deaths. But Nepal’s health Authorities say they do not have funds for vaccination against the unvaxxed population. However, they have been administering an unproven ayurvedic tonic, ‘swarnaprashana’, to children under five years of age, spending millions of rupees, out of 25 centres of all seven provinces. A few days ago, Minister for Health and Population Pradip Paudel inaugurated the campaign to administer the tonic in Dhangadhi. “We spend around Rs7.5 million to purchase raw materials of the swarnaprashan,” said Dr Shyam Babu Yadav, officiating director general at the Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine. “Experts at the concerned health agency [Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine centre] will mix the raw materials and administer them to children once a month.” The so-called swarnaprashana is an ancient Ayurvedic immunity-boosting formulation containing gold ash [swarna bhasma], honey, ghee, and herbal extracts. Raw materials have been purchased from two different Indian companies—gold ash from one and ghee and honey from the other. Ayurveda experts make a tonic from the mixture in the country before administering it to the children, meaning that the medicine is not registered at the Department of Drug Administration[DDA], the national regulatory body. “It is neither a branded drug nor has it been registered at the DDA,” said an official at the Ministry of Health and Population, asking not to be named, as he feared retribution for speaking out to the media. “No scientific study on the efficacy has been carried out yet to prove that the tonic works as it is claimed.” Officials at the DDA said they do not seek an efficacy and side effects certificate while registering ayurvedic drugs. “We just check classical literature while registering ayurvedic drugs,” said Narayan Dhakal, director general at the department. “It is the responsibility of the Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine to ensure safety and efficacy.” When asked about an unproven tonic, Yadav, the director general of the Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine, said that the tonic is a proven immunity booster that has been used for centuries. “We have been using turmeric in our kitchen for hundreds of years, and we have not questioned its efficacy and have been eating various vegetables without questioning their efficacy,” said Yadav. “In a rural setting, honey and ghee are given to newborn babies. The tonic we are administering to the children boosts immunity, which helps fight multiple diseases and cognitive health.” Meanwhile, the Nepal Paediatric Society has urged the government to suspend the ongoing campaign until scientific evidence, child safety assurance, and regulatory transparency are established. “Available scientific evidence, child safety, quality, risk assessment, and regulatory clarity remain insufficient,” reads the statement issued by the organisation of paediatric doctors. “There is no scientific basis to claim that Swarnakalp enhances the 'immune system' in infants. Additionally, concerns include risks associated with heavy metals [gold], the absence of Drug Administration Department registration/batch-testing made public, and the lack of regulatory transparency.” The organisation also asked the drug regulator to provide its official stance and ensure regulatory transparency before using such products. “The government should prioritise and expand investment in proven interventions such as exclusive breastfeeding, timely immunisation, Vitamin A supplementation, zinc for diarrhoea, nutrition, and WASH [Water, Sanitation and Hygiene],” reads the statement. The organisation has also asked parents not to give honey to infants below 12 months of age.

Japanese Encephalitis Outbreak

Nepal's Unproven Ayurvedic Tonic

['Japanese Encephalitis' 'Nepal' 'Ayurvedic Tonic' 'Swarnaprashana' 'Vaccination' 'Culex Mosquito' 'Health Authorities']

0.8

Negative

['Japanese encephalitis (JE)']

[]

['Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine' 'Ministry of Health and Population' 'Department of Drug Administration (DDA)' 'Nepal Paediatric Society']

['Pradip Paudel' 'Shyam Babu Yadav' 'Narayan Dhakal']

['Nepal' 'Dhangadhi' 'India']

['swarnaprashana' 'Vitamin A' 'zinc']

[]

4,036

1

3

4

3

0

3

0

{'Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine': 'Negative', 'Department of Drug Administration (DDA)': 'Neutral', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Neutral', 'Nepal Paediatric Society': 'Positive'}

{'Narayan Dhakal': 'Neutral', 'Pradip Paudel': 'Negative', 'Shyam Babu Yadav': 'Negative'}

{'Ayurvedic Tonic Policy': 'Negative', 'Vaccination Policy': 'Negative'}

{'hospital_name': 'None'}

{'Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine': -0.7, 'Department of Drug Administration (DDA)': 0, 'Ministry of Health and Population': 0, 'Nepal Paediatric Society': 0.8}

{'Narayan Dhakal': 0.1, 'Pradip Paudel': -0.6, 'Shyam Babu Yadav': -0.7}

{'Ayurvedic Tonic Policy': -0.9, 'Vaccination Policy': -0.8}

{'hospital_name': 'None'}

Physical

{'Japanese encephalitis (JE)': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Dhangadhi', 'India']

3

{'Kailali': ['Japanese encephalitis']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/08/26/national-lab-confirms-cholera-outbreak-in-birgunj

2025-08-27 06:54:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

National Public Health Laboratory confirms cholera outbreak in Birgunj

Arjun Poudel

2025-08-26

Kathmandu

Following earlier rapid diagnostic tests suggesting cholera, the National Public Health Laboratory has now officially confirmed the outbreak in Birgunj Metropolitan City. Of the 10 stool samples of the infected patients, eight have tested positive for cholera. “Vibrio cholera 01 Ogawa serotype has been detected in eight stool samples,” Dr Ranjan Raj Bhatta, director at the laboratory told the Post. “We have sent two samples for subculture [for further confirmation].” At least three people died and over 300 people have been infected with cholera that has spread in 3,11,12,13, and 16 wards of the metropolis since last week. Scores of ailing patients have been admitted to intensive care units of health facilities across Parsa district. Cholera is a highly infectious disease that causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and death within a few hours if left untreated. Public health experts say the ongoing Birgunj outbreak is the largest since the Jajarkot incident in 2009. Sixteen years ago, the far-western district of Jajarkot saw a major cholera outbreak that killed several and infected hundreds. “This is a public health emergency,” said Dr Baburam Marasaini, a former director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. “This incident exposes critical gaps in the government’s preparedness and response system, and water and sanitation conditions.” Experts are particularly alarmed by both the severity of the outbreak and the deaths it has caused. Health Ministry officials also blamed prolonged drought and water scarcity for the Birgunj outbreak. Experts warn that failing to address these underlying factors can exacerbate the outbreak and increase fatalities. Public health experts say authorities must not conceal or ignore these problems, as doing so costs lives. They say awareness is vital for containing the outbreak, and the general public must be informed about what is happening in their surroundings and precautionary measures. They stress that awareness drives and health education play a crucial role in changing behaviour, which requires years of investment and continuous efforts. Nepal often witnesses outbreaks of water- and food-borne diseases, including cholera, during the monsoon season as floodwaters contaminate most of the drinking water sources. Last year, at least 95 cholera cases were confirmed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Jajarkot, Pyuthan, Makawanpur, Rolpa, Sindhupalchok, Achham, and Rautahat districts. The Vibrio cholerae 01 Ogawa serotype was confirmed in the stool samples of infected patients. Experts say poor sanitation and hygiene make the country remains highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, and cholera, especially in the monsoon season. They say the risk of waterborne diseases will not decrease until the country’s water and sanitation conditions improve, and people get safe drinking water. Several other factors, including storage conditions, supply pipes, and pollution of water sources, also impact the quality of water supplied to households. The World Health Organisation says cholera is a global threat to public health, and a multifaceted approach is key to controlling the disease and reducing deaths.

Cholera Outbreak

Public Health Emergency in Birgunj

['Cholera' 'Birgunj Metropolitan City' 'Vibrio cholera 01 Ogawa serotype' 'Waterborne diseases' 'Public health emergency']

0.8

Negative

['cholera' 'diarrhoea' 'dysentery' 'typhoid' 'hepatitis']

[]

['National Public Health Laboratory' 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division' 'World Health Organisation' 'Health Ministry']

['Ranjan Raj Bhatta' 'Baburam Marasaini']

['Birgunj Metropolitan City' 'Parsa district' 'Jajarkot' 'Kathmandu' 'Lalitpur' 'Pyuthan' 'Makawanpur' 'Rolpa' 'Sindhupalchok' 'Achham' 'Rautahat' 'Nepal']

[]

3,264

5

2

4

12

0

{'National Public Health Laboratory': 'Neutral', 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 'Negative', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'Health Ministry': 'Negative'}

{'Ranjan Raj Bhatta': 'Neutral', 'Baburam Marasaini': 'Negative'}

{'Public Health Emergency': 'Negative', 'Government Preparedness and Response System': 'Negative', 'Water and Sanitation Conditions': 'Negative', 'Health Education and Awareness Drives': 'Positive'}

null

{'National Public Health Laboratory': 0.0, 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': -0.5, 'World Health Organisation': 0.0, 'Health Ministry': -0.5}

{'Ranjan Raj Bhatta': 0.0, 'Baburam Marasaini': -0.5}

{'Public Health Emergency': -0.7, 'Government Preparedness and Response System': -0.6, 'Water and Sanitation Conditions': -0.5, 'Health Education and Awareness Drives': 0.5}

null

Physical

{'cholera': 'not addressed', 'diarrhoea': 'not addressed', 'dysentery': 'not addressed', 'typhoid': 'not addressed', 'hepatitis': 'not addressed'}

['Birgunj Metropolitan City', 'Parsa district', 'Kathmandu', 'Lalitpur', 'Jajarkot', 'Pyuthan', 'Makawanpur', 'Rolpa', 'Sindhupalchok', 'Achham', 'Rautahat']

11

{'Achham': ['cholera'], 'Jajarkot': ['cholera'], 'Kathmandu': ['cholera'], 'Lalitpur': ['cholera'], 'Makwanpur': ['cholera'], 'Parsa': ['cholera'], 'Pyuthan': ['cholera'], 'Rautahat': ['cholera'], 'Rolpa': ['cholera'], 'Sindhupalchok': ['cholera']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/08/25/birgunj-cholera-outbreak-largest-since-jajarkot-in-2009

2025-08-26 07:00:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

Birgunj cholera outbreak largest since Jajarkot in 2009

Arjun Poudel & Shankar Acharya

2025-08-25

Kathmandu/birgunj

Seriously ailing diarrheal patients started seeking treatment at health facilities in Birgunj at the beginning of last week. Doctors attending to the patients reported the seriousness of the cases to their higher authorities and health agencies at the local, provincial, and federal levels. Rapid tests have shown cholera in most patients. However, it took around a week for the authorities concerned to acknowledge the cholera outbreak and start taking measures to control the spread of the disease. Until then, two people had already died from the infection, and hundreds of people were infected with the potentially deadly disease, likely spread through contaminated drinking water. “The outbreak of cholera in Birgunj and other parts of the country shows serious public health gaps,” said Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, former director general at the Department of Health Services. “We became too complacent after declaring the country open defecation free and started taking outbreaks as normal. This is not normal, as people have died and serious patients are in need of intensive care.” Interestingly, six years ago, on September 30, 2019, the then government, which was also led by the current prime minister, KP Sharma Oli, had declared the entire country open-defecation-free amid much fanfare. As of Monday evening, three people died, 93 tested positive for cholera and over 300 infected people sought care in various hospitals. “All three deceased were brought dead to the hospital,” said Dr Bikash Devkota, secretary for the Ministry of Health and Population. “This shows that people are not seeking care until their condition becomes severe. Cholera cannot be treated at home. I request people in affected areas to seek hospital care immediately.” According to local health officials, cases have been reported from wards 3, 11, 12, 13 and 16 of the Birgunj Metropolitan City. Narayani Hospital and Terai Hospital each confirmed 32 cases, while 12 patients tested positive for cholera at National Medical College. Cases were also confirmed at Bhawani Hospital, Birgunj Health Care and Mangalam Pathology, Ali Ortho Hospital, among other local health facilities. Cholera is a highly infectious disease that causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and death within a few hours if left untreated. Public health experts say the ongoing Birgunj outbreak is the largest since the Jajarkot incident in 2009. Sixteen years ago, the farwestern district of Jajarkot saw a major cholera outbreak that killed several and infected hundreds. “This is a serious public health emergency,” said Dr Baburam Marasaini, a former director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. “This incident exposes critical gaps in the government's preparedness and response system, and water and sanitation conditions.” Experts are particularly alarmed that people are becoming severely ill and dying. “We have admitted one patient in serious condition to the intensive care unit,” Dr Chuman Lal Das, director at the Narayani Hospital, told the Post over the Phone from Birgunj. “Several other seriously ill patients have been receiving intensive care at private health facilities.” Officials say over two dozen critically ill patients are being treated in intensive care at various Birgunj hospitals. Experts also criticise tendency to conceal outbreaks, and apathy towards improving water and sanitation, which contribute to repeated deadly outbreaks. “Birgunj is a border area, and an outbreak of cholera there is a matter of serious concern,” said Marasini. “We have neglected water and sanitation issues and recurring diarrheal and cholera outbreaks. Outbreaks of diarrheal diseases, including cholera, are directly linked to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions.” Health Ministry officials also blamed prolonged drought and water scarcity for the outbreak of cholera in Birgunj. Public health experts say that authorities must not conceal or ignore these serious problems, as doing so costs lives. They say awareness is crucial for containing the outbreaks, and the general public must be informed about what is happening in their surroundings and precautions. Awareness drives and health education play a crucial role in changing behaviour, which requires years of investment and continuous efforts, they add. Meanwhile, the National Public Health, where samples of stool from infected patients have been brought for testing, said that results of stool culture may come by Tuesday evening. “Sometimes it takes 72 hours for results to come. We can expect them by Tuesday evening,” said Dr Ranjan Raj Bhatta, director at the laboratory. “Sometimes rapid diagnostic tests can show false positives but not in such large numbers. Lab tests are also needed for serotyping of microbes.” Nepal often witnesses outbreaks of water- and food-borne diseases, including cholera, during the monsoon season. Thousands of people get infected as floodwaters contaminate most of the drinking water sources. Last year, at least 95 cholera cases were confirmed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Kailali, Pyuthan, Makawanpur, Rolpa, Sindhupalchok, Achham, and Rautahat districts. The Vibrio cholera 01 Ogawa serotype was confirmed in the stool samples of infected patients. Public health experts say that due to poor sanitation and hygiene, the country remains highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, and cholera, especially in the monsoon season. They say the risk of waterborne diseases will not decline until the country’s water and sanitation conditions improve, and people get safe drinking water. Several other factors, including storage conditions, supply pipes, and pollution of water sources, also impact the quality of water supplied to households. The World Health Organisation says cholera is a global threat to public health, and a multifaceted approach is key to controlling the disease and reducing deaths.

Cholera Outbreak

Public Health Emergency in Birgunj

['Cholera' 'Birgunj' 'Public Health' 'Waterborne Disease' 'Outbreak' 'Nepal']

-0.8

Negative

['cholera' 'diarrhea' 'dysentery' 'typhoid' 'hepatitis']

['Narayani Hospital' 'Terai Hospital' 'National Medical College' 'Bhawani Hospital' 'Birgunj Health Care' 'Mangalam Pathology' 'Ali Ortho Hospital']

['Department of Health Services' 'Ministry of Health and Population' 'National Public Health' 'World Health Organisation']

['Dr Shyam Raj Upreti' 'KP Sharma Oli' 'Dr Bikash Devkota' 'Dr Baburam Marasaini' 'Dr Chuman Lal Das' 'Dr Ranjan Raj Bhatta']

['Birgunj' 'Jajarkot' 'Kathmandu' 'Lalitpur' 'Kailali' 'Pyuthan' 'Makawanpur' 'Rolpa' 'Sindhupalchok' 'Achham' 'Rautahat' 'Nepal']

[]

['open-defecation-free']

5,980

5

6

4

12

1

0

7

{'Department of Health Services': 'Negative', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Negative', 'National Public Health': 'Negative', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Shyam Raj Upreti': 'Negative', 'KP Sharma Oli': 'Negative', 'Dr Bikash Devkota': 'Negative', 'Dr Baburam Marasaini': 'Negative', 'Dr Chuman Lal Das': 'Negative', 'Dr Ranjan Raj Bhatta': 'Neutral'}

{'open-defecation-free': 'Negative'}

{'Narayani Hospital': 'Negative', 'Terai Hospital': 'Negative', 'National Medical College': 'Negative', 'Bhawani Hospital': 'Negative', 'Birgunj Health Care': 'Negative', 'Mangalam Pathology': 'Negative', 'Ali Ortho Hospital': 'Negative'}

{'Department of Health Services': -0.6, 'Ministry of Health and Population': -0.5, 'National Public Health': -0.4, 'World Health Organisation': 0.0}

{'Dr Shyam Raj Upreti': -0.7, 'KP Sharma Oli': -0.6, 'Dr Bikash Devkota': -0.5, 'Dr Baburam Marasaini': -0.7, 'Dr Chuman Lal Das': -0.4, 'Dr Ranjan Raj Bhatta': 0.0}

{'open-defecation-free': -0.7}

{'Narayani Hospital': -0.6, 'Terai Hospital': -0.6, 'National Medical College': -0.5, 'Bhawani Hospital': -0.5, 'Birgunj Health Care': -0.5, 'Mangalam Pathology': -0.5, 'Ali Ortho Hospital': -0.5}

Physical

{'cholera': 'addressed', 'diarrhea': 'addressed', 'dysentery': 'not addressed', 'typhoid': 'not addressed', 'hepatitis': 'not addressed'}

['Birgunj', 'Kathmandu', 'Lalitpur', 'Kailali', 'Pyuthan', 'Makawanpur', 'Rolpa', 'Sindhupalchok', 'Achham', 'Rautahat', 'Jajarkot']

11

{'Achham': ['cholera'], 'Jajarkot': ['cholera'], 'Kailali': ['cholera'], 'Kathmandu': ['cholera'], 'Lalitpur': ['cholera'], 'Makwanpur': ['cholera'], 'Parsa': ['cholera', 'diarrhoea'], 'Pyuthan': ['cholera'], 'Rautahat': ['cholera'], 'Rolpa': ['cholera'], 'Sindhupalchok': ['cholera']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/08/24/42-test-positive-in-massive-cholera-outbreak-in-birgunj

2025-08-25 06:39:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

42 test positive in massive cholera outbreak in Birgunj

Arjun Poudel

2025-08-24

Kathmandu

At least 42 people from various wards of Birgunj Metropolitan City have tested positive with Cholera, a highly infectious waterborne disease that has been spreading since last week. Two people—a 35-year-old man, and a woman—died of diarrheal infection. Doctors say they were brought dead to the hospital. The number of diarrheal patients admitted to various health facilities in the metropolis has exceeded 130, which indicates community spread of the disease. “A 35-year-old man, who was said to have diarrheal infection, was brought dead to our hospital,” Dr Chuman Lal Das, medical superintendent of Narayani Hospital, told the Post over the phone from Birgunj. “But we have not tested his stool samples to establish the cause of death.” Cholera is a highly infectious disease that causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and death within a few hours if left untreated. Das informed that the 73 patients with diarrhoea sought treatment at the hospital since Friday and the number continues to rise. Health officials said they are awaiting test results from water and stool samples collected from the disease-hit areas, which have been brought to Kathmandu for laboratory confirmation. Dr Das informed that E coli has already been detected in water samples collected from affected areas, which were tested on Saturday. “We have sent samples of drinking water for laboratory further confirmation and are still awaiting stool culture results from patients” said Das. “Contaminated water could have triggered the diarrhoeal outbreak.” Nepal often witnesses outbreaks of water- and food-borne diseases, including deadly cholera, during the monsoon season. Thousands of people get infected as floodwaters contaminate most of the drinking water sources. Last year, at least 95 cholera cases were confirmed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Kailali, Pyuthan, Makawanpur, Rolpa, Sindhupalchok, Achham, and Rautahat districts. The Vibrio cholera 01 Ogawa serotype was confirmed in the stool samples of infected patients. Public health experts say that due to poor sanitation and hygiene, the country remains highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, and cholera, especially in the monsoon season. They say that the risk of waterborne diseases will not lessen until the country's water and sanitation conditions improve, and people are ensured safe drinking water. Several other factors, including storage conditions, supply pipes, and pollution in water sources, also impact the quality of water supplied to households. Raju Shah, health coordinator of Birgunj Metropolis, said that people in the metropolis are being supplied water from three sources, and people using water from all three sources have been infected. “Patients have been suffering from watery diarrhoea, vomiting, muscle cramps, dry mouth, and sunken eyes,” said Shah. “Drinking water could be the main culprit, but we cannot say which source is problematic without getting the lab results.” Meanwhile, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division said a team of experts comprising representatives from the World Health Organisation, Health Ministry, and the division reached Birgunj on Sunday to assist provincial and local health officials in controlling the spread of infection. “Medicines have been supplied from the provincial health directorate, and all necessary measures have been taken to control the outbreak,” said Dr Chandra Bhal Jha, director of the division. “The expert team has started its work in close coordination with provincial and local health authorities.” Door-to-door campaigns have been launched in disease-hit areas, mobilising medical doctors, paramedics, nursing staff, medical students, and other health workers. “We have been running awareness drives, urging people to boil water properly before drinking, and avoid raw food brought from markets,” said Ram Jinees Chaurasia, a health worker deployed in ward 13 of the metropolis. “We have also asked people not to consume chatpate, panipuri, and other roadside food.” The World Health Organisation says cholera is a global threat to public health, and a multifaceted approach is key to controlling the disease and reducing deaths.

Cholera Outbreak

Waterborne Disease in Birgunj Metropolitan City

['Cholera' 'Waterborne Disease' 'Birgunj Metropolitan City' 'Diarrheal Infection' 'E coli' 'Contaminated Water' 'Public Health']

-0.8

Negative

['Cholera' 'diarrheal infection' 'dysentery' 'typhoid' 'hepatitis']

['Narayani Hospital']

['World Health Organisation' 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division' 'Health Ministry']

['Dr Chuman Lal Das' 'Raju Shah' 'Dr Chandra Bhal Jha' 'Ram Jinees Chaurasia']

['Birgunj Metropolitan City' 'Kathmandu' 'Lalitpur' 'Kailali' 'Pyuthan' 'Makawanpur' 'Rolpa' 'Sindhupalchok' 'Achham' 'Rautahat' 'Nepal']

[]

4,248

5

4

3

11

0

1

{'World Health Organisation': 'Positive', 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 'Positive', 'Health Ministry': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Chuman Lal Das': 'Neutral', 'Raju Shah': 'Neutral', 'Dr Chandra Bhal Jha': 'Neutral', 'Ram Jinees Chaurasia': 'Neutral'}

{'Cholera Control Measures': 'Negative', 'Public Health Initiatives': 'Positive'}

{'Narayani Hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'World Health Organisation': 0.7, 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 0.6, 'Health Ministry': 0.6}

{'Dr Chuman Lal Das': 0, 'Raju Shah': 0, 'Dr Chandra Bhal Jha': 0, 'Ram Jinees Chaurasia': 0}

{'Cholera Control Measures': -0.6, 'Public Health Initiatives': 0.5}

{'Narayani Hospital': 0}

Physical

{'Cholera': 'addressed', 'diarrheal infection': 'addressed', 'dysentery': 'not addressed', 'typhoid': 'not addressed', 'hepatitis': 'not addressed'}

['Birgunj Metropolitan City', 'Kathmandu', 'Lalitpur', 'Kailali', 'Pyuthan', 'Makawanpur', 'Rolpa', 'Sindhupalchok', 'Achham', 'Rautahat']

10

{'Achham': ['cholera'], 'Kailali': ['cholera'], 'Kathmandu': ['cholera'], 'Lalitpur': ['cholera'], 'Makwanpur': ['cholera'], 'Parsa': ['cholera', 'diarrhoea', 'e coli'], 'Pyuthan': ['cholera'], 'Rautahat': ['cholera'], 'Rolpa': ['cholera'], 'Sindhupalchok': ['cholera']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/08/22/over-5-000-infected-with-scrub-typhus-since-january

2025-08-22 16:22:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

Over 5,000 infected with scrub typhus since January

Post Report

2025-08-22

Kathmandu

As many as 5,017 people have tested positive for scrub typhus in Nepal since January, data provided by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, show. Some people infected with the life-threatening disease have succumbed to the infection, but the actual number is not known, as most health facilities across the country lack a proper system to determine the cause of death. “People may have died from complications caused by scrub typhus, but doctors often report that patients died of multi-organ failure,” said Dr Gokarna Dahal, chief of the Vector Control Section at the division. “Due to a lack of a proper system to confirm causes of deaths, we are not in a position to say how many deaths were caused by scrub typhus.” Scrub typhus, or bush typhus, is a potentially fatal infectious disease caused by the parasite Orientia tsutsugamushi, a mite-borne bacterium. It spreads to humans when bitten by infected chiggers (larval mites) found on mice. In the fiscal year 2024-25, at least 16,597 people across the country were infected with scrub typhus. Of the total cases of infection, Lumbini province recorded 4,322 cases, the highest number in the country, followed by Sudurpaschim province (3,746 cases), Karnali (2,539), Koshi (2,119), Bagmati (1,838), Gandaki (1,725) and Madhesh province (308). The number could be higher still, as all cases of infection do not enter government records. What alarms health officials is that people living in urban settings are also getting infected with this disease. Until a few years ago, it was believed that only those residing in rural areas or those working in grasslands or fields were at high risk. This life-threatening disease has emerged as a major public health problem of late, as thousands of people get infected and some also fall into a coma every year. “Scrub typhus has emerged as a major public health problem in Nepal,” said Dahal, “People residing in both rural and urban settings are now getting infected.” Nepal saw a surge in scrub typhus cases after the calamitous 2015 earthquakes that killed nearly 9,000 persons across the country. Three months after the quakes, the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, alerted the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division about six children with unusual fevers and severe respiratory problems. Serum samples were collected for subsequent tests in Kathmandu and Bangkok, which confirmed a scrub typhus outbreak. By then, four children had already died in the course of treatment. By the end of the year, 101 cases were confirmed in 16 districts, and four more people succumbed to the disease. The outbreak escalated in 2016, when 831 cases were reported in 47 districts, and 14 people died by the end of that year. According to the Ministry of Health and Population data, 1,026 people were infected with the disease in 2020. The number increased to 1,999 in 2021, and to more than 2,900 in 2022. In 2023, over 5,000 people were infected. Doctors say the risk of severity and fatality can be minimised if patients are diagnosed and treated early. Common antibiotics, such as doxycycline and azithromycin, which are on the government’s essential drugs list and distributed free to health facilities across the country, can cure the disease. However, what is concerning is that many health workers, including doctors, lack sufficient knowledge about diagnosing scrub typhus. Many health facilities also lack reagents to carry out tests for the disease. Doctors can diagnose the disease based on the symptoms, but the risk of misdiagnosis is high, as scrub typhus symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses. Waiting for lab results before starting treatment can be dangerous as it can take about a week to get lab results and, by that time, the patient can fall into coma and suffer multi-organ failure. The symptoms include high fever, headache, abdominal pain, backache, joint and muscle pain, red rash, nausea and vomiting. Patients with severe illness may develop bleeding, which could lead to organ failure. The infection can lead to respiratory distress, inflammation of brain, lungs, kidney failure and then multi-organ failure. If not treated immediately, the infection can be fatal. Dengue cases hit 3,247 since January Meanwhile, officials at the division said that at least three people have succumbed to dengue virus infection, and 3,247 others have been infected with dengue virus since January. Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by female Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organisation, the same vector also transmits chikungunya, yellow fever, and the Zika virus. In 2024, 15 people died, and 41,865 others were infected as the virus spread to 76 districts. In 2023, 88 persons succumbed and more than 54,000 were infected by the virus, which had spread to all 77 districts. At the time, hospitals in Kathmandu Valley were overwhelmed with dengue patients, and pharmacies had run out of paracetamol, the most widely used medicine to treat fever. Since dengue became endemic in Nepal years ago, meaning people get infected throughout the year, health officials no longer classify it as an outbreak of a deadly virus.

Scrub Typhus Outbreak in Nepal

Rise in Cases and Public Health Concerns

['Scrub Typhus' 'Nepal' 'Public Health' 'Infectious Disease' 'Dengue Virus' 'Epidemiology']

0.8

Negative

['scrub typhus' 'dengue' 'multi-organ failure' 'chikungunya' 'yellow fever' 'Zika virus']

['BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences']

['Epidemiology and Disease Control Division' 'Ministry of Health and Population' 'World Health Organisation']

['Dr Gokarna Dahal']

['Nepal' 'Lumbini' 'Sudurpaschim' 'Karnali' 'Koshi' 'Bagmati' 'Gandaki' 'Madhesh' 'Kathmandu' 'Bangkok' 'Dharan']

['doxycycline' 'azithromycin' 'paracetamol']

[]

5,204

6

1

3

11

0

3

1

{'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 'Negative', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Negative', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Gokarna Dahal': 'Neutral'}

null

{'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences': 'Negative'}

{'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': -0.6, 'Ministry of Health and Population': -0.5, 'World Health Organisation': 0.0}

{'Dr Gokarna Dahal': 0}

null

{'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences': -0.5}

Physical

{'scrub typhus': 'addressed', 'dengue': 'not addressed', 'multi-organ failure': 'not addressed', 'chikungunya': 'not addressed', 'yellow fever': 'not addressed', 'Zika virus': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Lumbini province', 'Sudurpaschim province', 'Karnali', 'Koshi', 'Bagmati', 'Gandaki', 'Madhesh province']

8

{'All 77 districts of Nepal': ['scrub typhus', 'dengue']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/08/20/nepal-to-continue-rubella-shots-despite-eliminating-the-disease

2025-08-20 19:40:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

Nepal to continue rubella shots despite eliminating the disease

Post Report

2025-08-20

Kathmandu

Nepal will continue administering the rubella vaccine as part of its routine immunisation programme, even though the country has eliminated the disease, which is caused by a highly contagious virus. Officials say the disease could reemerge anytime if immunisation is stopped. “We have been administering vaccines against diphtheria, whooping cough and others for years, even though there have been no cases for years,” said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “So, we have to continue the rubella vaccine as usual. The deadly disease has just been eliminated, not eradicated.” Rubella, or German measles, is a highly contagious viral infection. It is especially dangerous for pregnant women, as infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or a range of lifelong and debilitating birth defects. But rubella is preventable with safe and cost-effective vaccines The World Health Organisation announced on Monday that Nepal had eliminated rubella as a public health problem. The UN health body in its statement described it as a remarkable achievement for a country making concerted efforts to protect its people from vaccine-preventable diseases. Nepal is the sixth country in WHO South-East Asia to achieve rubella elimination. The region has prioritised eliminating measles and rubella as public health problems by 2026. Bhutan, North Korea, the Maldives, and Timor-Leste have already eliminated measles, and now Nepal has eliminated rubella. Nepal introduced a rubella-containing vaccine in its immunisation programme in 2012 with a nationwide campaign targeting children aged between 9 months and 15 years. A second dose was added to the routine immunisation schedule in 2016. Four national campaigns in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024 helped increase access, despite major public health emergencies such as the 2015 earthquakes and the Covid pandemic in 2019-21. By 2024, Nepal achieved over 95 percent coverage for at least one dose of the rubella vaccine, according to the UN health body. “We achieved the rubella elimination goal prior to the deadline,” said Gautam. “We are also in line to eliminate measles by 2026. Measles cases have declined significantly, and we will request international independent verification next year if we succeed in preventing any new outbreak.” For independent verification, there should be no new outbreak for three consecutive years, officials say. Measles is also a highly contagious viral disease transmitted through fluids from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons. The disease can be prevented with a two-dose vaccine, first administered at nine months of age and then at 15 months. The government provides measles’ vaccines for free at health facilities across the country. Nepal had committed to eliminating measles by 2023 after missing the earlier deadline of 2019. However, a massive measles outbreak in 2022 and 2023 hampered the country’s progress towards the goal. To achieve measles elimination status, there should be fewer than five cases per 1,000,000 population, or no cases throughout the year. Gautam said that currently, there is around one positive case in per million population. Measles was endemic in Nepal, with an average of 90,000 cases recorded every year from 1994 to 2004. Routine measles vaccination began in the country in 1979, starting with three districts. The campaign was extended nationwide after 10 years.

Nepal's elimination of rubella

Continuation of immunisation programme

['rubella vaccine' 'immunisation programme' 'Nepal' 'World Health Organisation' 'measles elimination']

0.8

Positive

['rubella' 'diphtheria' 'whooping cough' 'measles' 'German measles' 'Covid']

[]

['World Health Organisation' 'UN' 'Department of Health Services' 'Family Welfare Division']

['Abhiyan Gautam']

['Nepal' 'Bhutan' 'North Korea' 'Maldives' 'Timor-Leste']

['rubella vaccine' 'measles vaccine']

[]

3,480

6

1

4

5

0

2

0

{'World Health Organisation': 'Positive', 'UN': 'Positive', 'Department of Health Services': 'Positive', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Positive'}

{'Abhiyan Gautam': 'Positive'}

{'rubella vaccination': 'Positive', 'measles vaccination': 'Positive'}

null

{'World Health Organisation': 0.9, 'UN': 0.85, 'Department of Health Services': 0.8, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.8}

{'Abhiyan Gautam': 0.7}

{'rubella vaccination': 0.8, 'measles vaccination': 0.6}

null

Physical

{'rubella': 'addressed', 'diphtheria': 'addressed', 'whooping cough': 'addressed', 'measles': 'addressed', 'German measles': 'addressed', 'Covid': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Bhutan', 'North Korea', 'Maldives', 'Timor-Leste']

5

{ "location_by_disease": {} }

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/08/19/je-death-toll-rises-in-nine-as-disease-spreads

2025-08-20 06:09:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

JE death toll rises to nine as disease spreads

Post Report

2025-08-19

Kathmandu

At least nine people died, and 54 others have been infected with the Japanese encephalitis (JE), which has spread in 50 local levels of 24 districts across the country. All seven provinces across the country have reported the outbreak of the deadly disease. The number of infections and deaths from JE virus has been rising alarmingly. Just two weeks ago, only 13 infections and two deaths were reported. According to data provided by the Ministry of Health and Population, 36 males and 27 females have been infected so far. Of the total nine deaths, five were female and four male. Koshi and Bagmati provinces reported three deaths each, Lumbini province reported two, and Madhesh reported one death. JE is a viral brain infection endemic to Asia and parts of the Western Pacific. According to the World Health Organisation, it is a mosquito-borne flavivirus belonging to the same family as dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and West Nile viruses. The virus kills a third of those who fall ill and leaves up to half of the survivors with severe lifelong disabilities, according to the UN health body. Last year, 23 people succumbed to the disease, including one in the Kathmandu Valley, and over 80 people were infected. Doctors say the actual number of cases could be higher, as tests were carried out only on hospitalised patients with severe symptoms. This year, JE cases have been reported in Morang, Bara, Jhapa, Saptari, Siraha, Sarlahi, Parsa, Nawalparasi West, Nawalparasi East, Sindhuli, Bardia, Kailali, and Chitwan districts. Likewise, Dang, Pyuthan, Gulmi, Kapilvastu, Rautahat, Dhanusha, Terhathum, and Ilam have also reported JE infection. Also, the farwestern mountain district of Jumla also reported JE cases in Sinja. With rising infections, the case fatality rate has also increased to over 14 percent, which indicates that the country is again witnessing a resurgence of the deadly disease, which has killed and infected thousands of people in the past. Most of those infected and dead were unvaccinated. Experts warn that without vaccination, these vulnerable populations are at high risk, but the government has yet to take decisive action to contain the outbreak. Data show mortality is higher among those above 15 years of age, which indicates that unvaccinated adults are at higher risk. Health authorities admit that they do not have immediate plans for vaccination. “We have not held any meeting regarding JE vaccination for adults,” said Dr Ramesh Kanta Adhikari, chief of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee. “Vaccination is not a solution for controlling the current outbreak, but it provides protection against future infections.” JE vaccine is provided to all children under the routine immunisation programme, according to Adhikari. Health Ministry officials say they lack a budget to launch a vaccination drive for the adult population. Authorities have focussed on preventive measures, including awareness drives, environment management for vector control, and case management training for doctors in disease-hit districts. However, the rise in the number of infections in Tarai districts shows that those measures are not sufficient. Health Ministry officials admit that JE is the number one killer among vector-borne diseases in Nepal and say they attempted to convince development partners, including the World Health Organisation, to support a mass JE vaccination campaign over the past year, without success. In 2005, JE killed nearly 2,000 people in Nepal—mostly children from Tarai districts. Nepal started administering the JE vaccine in 2006, eight years before the World Health Organisation officially issued prequalification certification, due to the high rates of infection and deaths from the virus at the time. In the first phase, all populations of the highly affected four districts—Banke, Bardiya, Dang, and Kailali—reveived the JE vaccine. Later, the vaccination programme was expanded to 19 other affected districts, and children under 15 were inoculated. The government integrated the JE vaccine into routine immunisation in 2015. Still, people continue to die and dozens get infected by the deadly virus every year. Public health experts say this is the right time to vaccinate all those at risk. Even if the vaccine does not help in outbreak management, it provides immunity against future infections, according to them. The JE virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Culex mosquitoes. Pigs and ducks are considered natural reservoirs of the virus. Complications from JE infection can cause permanent injuries to the brain and the nervous system. The disease has no cure, so treatment focuses on managing symptoms. However, safe and effective vaccines have been developed to prevent infection. Doctors advise avoiding mosquito bites, such as by using mosquito repellents, wearing long-sleeved clothes, and getting vaccinated if one lives in or travels to disease-endemic areas. They also stress the importance of awareness and timely treatment to prevent infections and deaths. An estimated 12.5 million people are thought to be at high risk of JE infection in Nepal.

Japanese Encephalitis Outbreak

Rising Infections and Deaths in Nepal

['Japanese Encephalitis' 'Nepal' 'Outbreak' 'Infections' 'Deaths' 'Vaccination' 'Mosquito-Borne Disease']

-0.8

Negative

['Japanese encephalitis' 'dengue' 'Zika' 'yellow fever' 'West Nile viruses']

[]

['Ministry of Health and Population' 'World Health Organisation' 'National Immunisation Advisory Committee']

['Dr Ramesh Kanta Adhikari']

['Nepal' 'Asia' 'Western Pacific' 'Kathmandu Valley' 'Morang' 'Bara' 'Jhapa' 'Saptari' 'Siraha' 'Sarlahi' 'Parsa' 'Nawalparasi West' 'Nawalparasi East' 'Sindhuli' 'Bardia' 'Kailali' 'Chitwan' 'Dang' 'Pyuthan' 'Gulmi' 'Kapilvastu' 'Rautahat' 'Dhanusha' 'Terhathum' 'Ilam' 'Jumla' 'Sinja']

['JE vaccine']

[]

5,152

5

1

3

27

0

1

0

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Negative', 'World Health Organisation': 'Negative', 'National Immunisation Advisory Committee': 'Negative'}

{'Dr Ramesh Kanta Adhikari': 'Neutral'}

{'Vaccination Policy': 'Negative'}

null

{'Ministry of Health and Population': -0.6, 'World Health Organisation': -0.5, 'National Immunisation Advisory Committee': -0.7}

{'Dr Ramesh Kanta Adhikari': 0}

{'Vaccination Policy': -0.7}

null

Physical

{'Japanese encephalitis': 'to be addressed', 'dengue': 'not addressed', 'Zika': 'not addressed', 'yellow fever': 'not addressed', 'West Nile viruses': 'not addressed'}

['Morang', 'Bara', 'Jhapa', 'Saptari', 'Siraha', 'Sarlahi', 'Parsa', 'Nawalparasi West', 'Nawalparasi East', 'Sindhuli', 'Bardia', 'Kailali', 'Chitwan', 'Dang', 'Pyuthan', 'Gulmi', 'Kapilvastu', 'Rautahat', 'Dhanusha', 'Terhathum', 'Ilam', 'Jumla']

22

{'Banke': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Bara': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Bardiya': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Chitwan': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Dang': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Dhanusha': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Ilam': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Jhapa': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Jumla': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Kailali': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Kapilvastu': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Morang': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Nawalpur': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Parasi': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Parsa': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Pyuthan': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Rautahat': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Saptari': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Sarlahi': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Sindhuli': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Siraha': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Terhathum': ['Japanese encephalitis']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/08/18/kmc-suspends-emission-testing-enforces-public-smoking-ban

2025-08-18 19:14:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

KMC suspends emission testing, enforces public smoking ban

Post Report

2025-08-18

Kathmandu

Emission testing of vehicles, both private and public, started by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City since January, has been suspended indefinitely, as the City Office failed to retain a mechanical engineer. Officials said that emission testing cannot be carried out without the help of a mechanical engineer, and the contract of the previous engineer expired a month ago. “We have suspended emission tests on Kathmandu roads for about a month,” said Jagatman Shrestha, traffic expert adviser at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City office. “We will resume testing once we renew the engineer’s contract.” Random on-the-spot emissions testing of vehicles has long been a plan of the metropolis to tackle growing air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley. Nepal’s air quality reaches hazardous levels several times a year, and the capital city often becomes the world’s most polluted metropolis. The city office started carrying out emissions testing on January 13 in coordination with the traffic police, and the federal Department of Environment and the Department of Transport Management. The test showed that around 80 percent of diesel vehicles—buses, micro-buses and tata pick-up trucks—on Kathmandu’s roads emit black smoke beyond permissible levels. Likewise, around 30 percent of petrol vehicles—cars and motorcycles—also failed the tests. “The crackdown on polluting vehicles had shifted vehicle owners’ attitudes towards engine maintenance,” said Shrestha. “ After repeated warnings and fines, the percentage of polluting diesel vehicles had lessened to 60 percent and petrol vehicles to 10 percent.” The metropolis carried out emission testing on over 3,000 vehicles on a random basis. Although vehicle emission testing is mainly the responsibility of federal agencies, the constitution also mandates local governments to take measures to reduce pollution, officials say. The metropolis has developed pollution control guidelines as per the KMC Environment and Natural Resources Protection Act-2021. In the initial stage, the metropolis carried out testing for raising awareness and warned drivers and owners to maintain their vehicle engines to avoid fines and legal action, and had obtained written commitments from vehicles that failed initial tests. Later, it slapped Rs1,000 fines on drivers of polluting vehicles for ignoring these warnings. Metropolis officials say more problems have been found in vehicles older than 20 years. The government has announced several times its intention to ban vehicles older than 20 years throughout the country to reduce traffic congestion, air pollution, and road accidents caused by old vehicles. However, the decision has not yet been implemented. Meanwhile, the City Office has started enforcing a ban on smoking in public places from Sunday. “On Sunday, we caught 17 smokers and fined Rs500 each,” said Raju Nath Pandey, chief of KMC Police. “The total number of rule violators will be known only in the evening.” The metropolis has deployed several teams of its security personnel to discourage smoking in public places. The KMC had also launched an awareness campaign within its jurisdiction against smoking in public places before enforcing a ban. A recent executive and municipal assembly meeting of the city office had decided to enforce a smoking ban in public places and fine violators Rs500. The decision to ban smoking in public places is in accordance with Clause 42 of the Public Health Act, which the metropolis unveiled some two years ago. Tobacco use is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCD), including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung diseases and diabetes. It is the world’s leading cause of preventable deaths and kills nearly eight million people every year. It claims 1.6 million lives in the WHO South-East Asia Region, which is among the largest producers and consumers of tobacco products. Studies show 28 percent of men and five percent of women in Nepal smoke tobacco, according to the final report of the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022, a nationwide study carried out by the Ministry of Health and Population between January 5 and June 22 last year. The study shows 17 percent of men smoke on a daily basis, while 11 percent occasionally do. Among men who smoke cigarettes, a majority (54 percent) smoke less than five cigarettes per day on average. More men use smokeless tobacco than women—35 percent versus three percent. Overall, half of the men (50 percent) and only seven percent of women in Nepal use any type of tobacco. The growing use of new and emerging products such as Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems/e-cigarettes and the social use of sheesha/hookah are additional challenges to tobacco control, experts say. “A lot of people, especially parents of teenage children, have complained to us and asked to prohibit the sales and use of tobacco,” said Dhurba Kumar Kafle, deputy spokesperson at the city office. “Our decision to impose a ban on smoking will discourage people from smoking.” According to the World Health Organisation, tobacco kills 27,137 people in Nepal every year.

Environmental and Health Issues in Kathmandu

Air Pollution and Smoking Ban

['air pollution' 'emission testing' 'smoking ban' 'vehicle maintenance' 'tobacco control' 'public health']

0.6

Negative

['air pollution' 'cancers' 'cardiovascular diseases' 'chronic lung diseases' 'diabetes' 'non-communicable diseases']

[]

['Kathmandu Metropolitan City' 'Department of Environment' 'Department of Transport Management' 'World Health Organisation' 'Ministry of Health and Population']

['Jagatman Shrestha' 'Raju Nath Pandey' 'Dhurba Kumar Kafle']

['Kathmandu' 'Kathmandu Valley' 'Nepal' 'WHO South-East Asia Region']

[]

['KMC Environment and Natural Resources Protection Act-2021' 'Public Health Act' 'Clause 42']

5,110

6

3

5

4

3

0

{'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 'Negative', 'Department of Environment': 'Neutral', 'Department of Transport Management': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Negative', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Negative'}

{'Jagatman Shrestha': 'Neutral', 'Raju Nath Pandey': 'Positive', 'Dhurba Kumar Kafle': 'Positive'}

{'KMC Environment and Natural Resources Protection Act-2021': 'Positive', 'Public Health Act': 'Positive', 'Clause 42': 'Positive'}

null

{'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': -0.5, 'Department of Environment': 0, 'Department of Transport Management': 0, 'World Health Organisation': -0.4, 'Ministry of Health and Population': -0.3}

{'Jagatman Shrestha': 0, 'Raju Nath Pandey': 0.5, 'Dhurba Kumar Kafle': 0.5}

{'KMC Environment and Natural Resources Protection Act-2021': 0.6, 'Public Health Act': 0.7, 'Clause 42': 0.7}

null

Both

{'air pollution': 'addressed', 'cancers': 'not addressed', 'cardiovascular diseases': 'not addressed', 'chronic lung diseases': 'not addressed', 'diabetes': 'not addressed', 'non-communicable diseases': 'addressed'}

['Kathmandu', 'Kathmandu Valley', 'Nepal']

3

{'Kathmandu': ['cancers', 'cardiovascular diseases', 'chronic lung diseases', 'diabetes']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/08/18/nepal-eliminates-rubella-highly-contagious-viral-disease-who

2025-08-18 18:32:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-07

Nepal eliminates highly contagious viral disease rubella: WHO

Post Report

2025-08-18

Kathmandu

Nepal has eliminated rubella, a highly contagious viral disease as a public health problem, the World Health Organisation, announced on Monday. The UN health body in its statement said that it is a remarkable achievement for a country making concerted efforts to protect its people from vaccine preventable diseases. Rubella, or German measles, is a highly contagious viral infection. It is serious particularly for pregnant women as infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or a range of lifelong and debilitating birth defects. But rubella is preventable with safe and cost-effective vaccines. “Nepal’s success reflects the unwavering commitment of its leadership, persistent efforts of the health care workers and volunteers, and unstinting support of engaged and informed communities, for a healthy start for babies and a future free of rubella disease,” said Dr Catharina Boehme, officer-in-charge WHO South-East Asia, while endorsing the recommendation of the Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella elimination in South-East Asia Region (SEA-RVC) for Nepal to be verified for eliminating rubella. The SEA-RVC which held its annual meeting from July 22-24, 2025, reviewed and evaluated information and data submitted by the national verification committee on measles and rubella disease surveillance and immunisation coverage rates, and recommended verification of rubella elimination in Nepal. Nepal is the sixth country in WHO South-East Asia to achieve rubella elimination. Prioritising elimination of measles and rubella as public health problems in WHO South-East Asia by 2026, Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, and Timor-Leste have eliminated measles, and Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Timor- Leste, and now Nepal have eliminated rubella. “Congratulations to Nepal for eliminating rubella. This public health achievement is the result of close collaboration between the government, dedicated health workers, partners and communities,” said Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO Representative to Nepal. “WHO is proud to have contributed to this journey and remains committed to supporting Nepal sustain this accomplishment.” Nepal introduced rubella-containing vaccine in its immunisation programme in 2012 with a nationwide campaign for the age group 9 months to 15 years. A second dose of rubella-containing vaccine was added to the routine immunisation schedule in 2016. Four national campaigns with rubella vaccines in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024, helped increase access, despite major public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic and earthquakes in 2015 and 2023. By 2024, Nepal achieved over 95 percent coverage for at least one dose of rubella vaccine. Innovative strategies such as observing ‘immunisation month’, outreach to vaccinate missed children, and motivation for the districts to be declared ‘fully immunised’, provided further impetus to elimination efforts. To further strengthen surveillance, Nepal recently introduced a robust laboratory testing algorithm, the first in the WHO South-East Asia Region to do so.

Nepal eliminates rubella as a public health problem

Vaccination efforts and disease surveillance

['Nepal' 'rubella' 'vaccination' 'WHO' 'public health' 'disease elimination']

0.9

Positive

['rubella' 'German measles' 'COVID-19']

[]

['World Health Organisation' 'UN' 'WHO South-East Asia' 'Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella elimination']

['Dr Catharina Boehme' 'Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav']

['Nepal' 'South-East Asia' 'Bhutan' 'DPR Korea' 'Maldives' 'Timor-Leste' 'Sri Lanka']

['rubella-containing vaccine']

[]

3,078

3

2

4

7

0

1

0

{'World Health Organisation': 'Positive', 'UN': 'Positive', 'WHO South-East Asia': 'Positive', 'Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella elimination': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Catharina Boehme': 'Positive', 'Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav': 'Positive'}

{'': ''}

null

{'World Health Organisation': 0.9, 'UN': 0.8, 'WHO South-East Asia': 0.9, 'Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella elimination': 0.85}

{'Dr Catharina Boehme': 0.8, 'Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav': 0.9}

{'': 0}

null

Physical

{'rubella': 'addressed', 'German measles': 'addressed', 'COVID-19': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Bhutan', 'DPR Korea', 'Maldives', 'Timor-Leste', 'Sri Lanka']

6

{'Nepal': ['rubella', 'measles', 'COVID-19']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/08/singha-durbar-premises-teeming-with-dengue-mosquito-larvae

2025-09-08 07:54:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-08

Singha Durbar premises teeming with dengue mosquito larvae

Post Report

2025-09-08

Kathmandu

On Friday, health workers deployed from the Kathmandu Metropolitan City inspected Singha Durbar for potential breeding grounds for dengue-spreading mosquitoes. The staffers working under the city’s Health Department could inspect only a few offices, but what they saw on the office premises of the government’s central secretariat were alarming. “We found stagnant water and Aedes mosquito larvae in discarded tyres, plastic cups, bottles, and dumped toilet commodes in almost all offices,” said Rishi Bhusal, an epidemic control inspector at the city office. “We concluded that the offices inside Singhadurbar have also been providing breeding grounds to the virus-spreading vectors.” Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by female Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organisation, the same vector also transmits chikungunya, yellow fever, and the Zika virus. Health workers deployed by the metropolis for a search-and-destroy drive showed mosquito larvae to officials and bureaucrats and asked them to regularly clean up mosquito breeding sites. “We also discussed with senior officials and ministers the growing dengue cases in the country,” said Dr Dibas Neupane, an official serving under the department. “They took our initiatives positively and committed to following our requests.” The metropolis’s Health Department has been carrying out a search-and-destroy drive every Friday in the areas under its jurisdiction. But officials deployed for the campaign have complained that some government officials are not taking their requests positively. “We also inspected the office of the Nepal Electricity Authority, where we found discarded tyres in open and stagnant water inside the tyres,” said Neupane. “We asked them why they let mosquito larvae develop, but their response was dismissive, and they behaved as if we went there to annoy them because we did not have any other work to do.” Officials say they later issued a letter of warning to the NEA office. Some government offices, such as the Election Commission and the Office of the Vice President, have requested fumigation to kill mosquitoes. But health officials say fumigation is not an effective means of dengue control. The government has directed all offices concerned to destroy mosquito breeding grounds every week, but the KMC’s inspections show that only a few have followed through. Most offices have been keeping the premises clean, but have overlooked discarded tyres, plastic bottles, and cups at certain corners. Dengue mosquitoes breed in clean water and bite during daytime. Uncovered water tanks and discarded objects such as plastic cups and bottles can serve as breeding grounds. So far, three people have died and 3,926 people have been hospitalised for treatment of the dengue virus this year, which has spread in 74 districts throughout the country. In 2024, 15 people died, and 41,865 others were infected as the virus spread to 76 districts. In 2023, 88 persons died and more than 54,000 were infected by the virus, which had spread to all 77 districts. At the time, hospitals in Kathmandu Valley were overwhelmed with dengue patients, and pharmacies had run out of paracetamol, the most widely used medicine to treat fever. Experts say reported cases may represent only a small fraction of the true scale of infection, as around 90 percent of the infected people are asymptomatic, and many deaths and infections often go unreported. Many people infected with dengue show mild symptoms, which do not need any treatment or can be managed with paracetamol at home. Since dengue became endemic in Nepal years ago, meaning people get infected throughout the year, health officials no longer classify it as an outbreak of a deadly virus. Health officials warn that the risk of dengue infection has not yet passed, as the post-monsoon season, which is considered the peak dengue season, is yet to come. “A sharp spike in cases is likely once the ongoing rainfall stops for a few days,” said Dr Gokarna Dahal, chief of the Vector Control Section at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. “Everyone should be cautious and take initiative to prevent the spread of the dengue virus.” In the worst-case scenario, over 60,000 people could get infected with the dengue virus in the next three months, according to a projection prepared by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. Doctors say that, along with launching a search-and-destroy drive on a regular basis, authorities should also focus on strengthening the capacity of health facilities to prevent them from being overwhelmed in the event of a possible massive outbreak, experts say. Symptoms of the disease include mild to high fever, severe muscle pain, rashes, severe headache and pain in the eyes, among other things. Doctors advise those with these symptoms to seek immediate treatment. While there is no specific cure for the disease, early detection and access to proper medical care can lower fatalities. Nepal reported its first dengue case in a foreigner in 2004 in Chitwan district. Since then, an increasing number of dengue infections, including major outbreaks, have been reported from many districts. The World Health Organisation says there is no specific cure for severe dengue, but early detection and access to proper medical care can save lives.

Dengue Outbreak in Nepal

Government Efforts to Control Mosquito Breeding

['Dengue Virus' 'Mosquito Breeding' 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City' 'Health Department' 'Search-and-Destroy Drive' 'Aedes Mosquitoes']

-0.7

Negative

['dengue' 'chikungunya' 'yellow fever' 'Zika virus']

[]

['World Health Organisation' 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City' 'Nepal Electricity Authority' 'Election Commission' 'Office of the Vice President' 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division']

['Rishi Bhusal' 'Dr Dibas Neupane' 'Dr Gokarna Dahal']

['Kathmandu' 'Nepal' 'Kathmandu Valley' 'Chitwan' 'Singha Durbar']

['paracetamol']

[]

5,359

4

3

6

5

0

1

0

{'World Health Organisation': 'Positive', 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 'Negative', 'Nepal Electricity Authority': 'Negative', 'Election Commission': 'Neutral', 'Office of the Vice President': 'Neutral', 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 'Positive'}

{'Rishi Bhusal': 'Negative', 'Dr Dibas Neupane': 'Positive', 'Dr Gokarna Dahal': 'Neutral'}

{'Dengue Control Initiatives': 'Positive', 'Health Department Inspections': 'Negative'}

null

{'World Health Organisation': 0.5, 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': -0.5, 'Nepal Electricity Authority': -0.7, 'Election Commission': 0, 'Office of the Vice President': 0, 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 0.6}

{'Rishi Bhusal': -0.5, 'Dr Dibas Neupane': 0.6, 'Dr Gokarna Dahal': 0.0}

{'Dengue Control Initiatives': 0.5, 'Health Department Inspections': -0.5}

null

Physical

{'dengue': 'addressed', 'chikungunya': 'not addressed', 'yellow fever': 'not addressed', 'Zika virus': 'not addressed'}

['Kathmandu', 'Singha Durbar', 'Nepal Electricity Authority', 'Election Commission', 'Office of the Vice President', 'Chitwan district', '74 districts', '76 districts', '77 districts', 'Kathmandu Valley']

10

{'Chitwan': ['dengue'], 'Kathmandu': ['dengue', 'chikungunya', 'yellow fever', 'Zika virus']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/14/nepal-s-immunisation-on-the-brink-after-vaccine-stocks-gutted-in-arsons

2025-09-14 18:20:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-14

Nepal’s immunisation on the brink after vaccine stocks gutted in arsons

Arjun Poudel

2025-09-14

Kathmandu

Thousands of doses of childhood vaccines have been destroyed after several health facilities, including cold chain storage units, in arson attacks during last week’s anti-corruption demonstrations across the country. At least 13 cold chain units, including vaccine sub centers, which stored thousands of doses of childhood vaccines, were destroyed, when protesters unleashed their fury on government offices. According to a preliminary report, at least 37 health facilities have been completely destroyed by the protesters. “We are still accessing the damage,” said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “At least 13 cold chain units and vaccine stores have been destroyed by the fire.” Childhood immunisation is the number one priority programme of the government, under which 13 types of vaccines are given against a range of diseases, including measles-rubella, pneumonia, tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, rotavirus, Japanese encephalitis and typhoid under the regular immunisation programme, free of cost. The Ministry of Health and Population has also planned to include the human papillomavirus vaccine in the regular immunisation list from the ongoing fiscal year. Officials said vaccine sub centers in Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City of Banke, Tulsipur Sub-metropolitan City, and vaccine cold chain room of Morang have been destroyed in arson attacks. Likewise, cold chain stores at Birgunj Sub-metropolitan City of Parsa, Golbazar Municipality of Siraha, Shuklaphanta Municipality of Kanchanpur, Godawari Municipality of Lalitpur, Biratnagar Metropolitan City, provincial health emergency operation center of Koshi province, and Khaireni and Rapti municipalities have also been destroyed. Health officials say that routine immunisation could be disturbed in the districts, where vaccine cold stores have been destroyed. “We don’t even have the budget to replace those units immediately,” said Gautam. Public health experts say destruction of the vaccine cold chain units is a serious crime, something the country had not seen even during the Maoist insurgency (1996-2006). Most of the cold chain units were set up with financial help from development partners including the United Nations Children’s Fund. “It is very difficult to find vaccine storage refrigerators and cold chain equipment in the market,” said Dr Baburam Marasini. “Some of those equipment were brought from Japan.” Experts say the destruction of vaccine stocks and cold chain units could pose serious risks for quality control and children may miss routine vaccines, which could ultimately lead to outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases. “Health agencies and health workers have to make extra efforts to ensure timely vaccination for all eligible children in the affected districts,” said Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, former director general at the Department of Health Services. “They should use cold stores in nearby districts to keep vaccines safe and pay extra attention to quality assurance.” Routine immunisation is one of the most successful programmes in Nepal, with a high coverage rate. The country has demonstrated remarkable progress in reducing the under-five mortality rate and the regular immunisation programme is credited with that. Nepal has recently eliminated rubella, a highly contagious viral disease, as a public health problem through routine immunisation. The World Health Organisation last month announced that it is a remarkable achievement for a country making concerted efforts to protect its people from vaccine-preventable diseases. Doctors say immunisation is the most cost-effective, powerful and efficient way to control and eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases that cause childhood illnesses and deaths.

Vaccine Destruction

Arson Attacks on Health Facilities

['childhood vaccines' 'arson attacks' 'health facilities' 'cold chain storage units' 'immunisation programme']

-0.8

Negative

['measles-rubella' 'pneumonia' 'tuberculosis' 'diphtheria' 'pertussis' 'tetanus' 'hepatitis B' 'rotavirus' 'Japanese encephalitis' 'typhoid' 'human papillomavirus' 'rubella']

[]

['Department of Health Services' 'Family Welfare Division' 'Ministry of Health and Population' 'United Nations Children’s Fund' 'World Health Organisation']

['Abhiyan Gautam' 'Baburam Marasini' 'Shyam Raj Upreti']

['Nepal' 'Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City' 'Banke' 'Tulsipur Sub-metropolitan City' 'Morang' 'Birgunj Sub-metropolitan City' 'Parsa' 'Golbazar Municipality' 'Siraha' 'Shuklaphanta Municipality' 'Kanchanpur' 'Godawari Municipality' 'Lalitpur' 'Biratnagar Metropolitan City' 'Koshi province' 'Khaireni' 'Rapti' 'Japan']

['childhood vaccines' 'human papillomavirus vaccine']

['regular immunisation programme']

3,830

12

3

5

18

1

2

0

{'Department of Health Services': 'Negative', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Negative', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Negative', 'United Nations Children’s Fund': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive'}

{'Abhiyan Gautam': 'Negative', 'Baburam Marasini': 'Negative', 'Shyam Raj Upreti': 'Negative'}

{'regular immunisation programme': 'Positive'}

null

{'Department of Health Services': -0.5, 'Family Welfare Division': -0.5, 'Ministry of Health and Population': -0.5, 'United Nations Children’s Fund': 0.5, 'World Health Organisation': 0.5}

{'Abhiyan Gautam': -0.6, 'Baburam Marasini': -0.7, 'Shyam Raj Upreti': -0.5}

{'regular immunisation programme': 0.7}

null

Physical

{'measles-rubella': 'addressed', 'pneumonia': 'addressed', 'tuberculosis': 'addressed', 'diphtheria': 'addressed', 'pertussis': 'addressed', 'tetanus': 'addressed', 'hepatitis B': 'addressed', 'rotavirus': 'addressed', 'Japanese encephalitis': 'addressed', 'typhoid': 'addressed', 'human papillomavirus': 'to be addressed', 'rubella': 'addressed'}

['Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City', 'Tulsipur Sub-metropolitan City', 'Morang', 'Birgunj Sub-metropolitan City', 'Parsa', 'Golbazar Municipality', 'Siraha', 'Shuklaphanta Municipality', 'Kanchanpur', 'Godawari Municipality', 'Lalitpur', 'Biratnagar Metropolitan City', 'Koshi province', 'Khaireni Municipality', 'Rapti Municipality']

15

{'Banke': ['measles-rubella', 'pneumonia', 'tuberculosis', 'diphtheria', 'pertussis', 'tetanus', 'hepatitis B', 'rotavirus', 'Japanese encephalitis', 'typhoid', 'human papillomavirus', 'rubella'], 'Chitwan': ['measles-rubella', 'pneumonia', 'tuberculosis', 'diphtheria', 'pertussis', 'tetanus', 'hepatitis B', 'rotavirus', 'Japanese encephalitis', 'typhoid', 'human papillomavirus', 'rubella'], 'Dang': ['measles-rubella', 'pneumonia', 'tuberculosis', 'diphtheria', 'pertussis', 'tetanus', 'hepatitis B', 'rotavirus', 'Japanese encephalitis', 'typhoid', 'human papillomavirus', 'rubella'], 'Kanchanpur': ['measles-rubella', 'pneumonia', 'tuberculosis', 'diphtheria', 'pertussis', 'tetanus', 'hepatitis B', 'rotavirus', 'Japanese encephalitis', 'typhoid', 'human papillomavirus', 'rubella'], 'Lalitpur': ['measles-rubella', 'pneumonia', 'tuberculosis', 'diphtheria', 'pertussis', 'tetanus', 'hepatitis B', 'rotavirus', 'Japanese encephalitis', 'typhoid', 'human papillomavirus', 'rubella'], 'Morang': ['measles-rubella', 'pneumonia', 'tuberculosis', 'diphtheria', 'pertussis', 'tetanus', 'hepatitis B', 'rotavirus', 'Japanese encephalitis', 'typhoid', 'human papillomavirus', 'rubella'], 'Parsa': ['measles-rubella', 'pneumonia', 'tuberculosis', 'diphtheria', 'pertussis', 'tetanus', 'hepatitis B', 'rotavirus', 'Japanese encephalitis', 'typhoid', 'human papillomavirus', 'rubella'], 'Siraha': ['measles-rubella', 'pneumonia', 'tuberculosis', 'diphtheria', 'pertussis', 'tetanus', 'hepatitis B', 'rotavirus', 'Japanese encephalitis', 'typhoid', 'human papillomavirus', 'rubella'], 'Tanahun': ['measles-rubella', 'pneumonia', 'tuberculosis', 'diphtheria', 'pertussis', 'tetanus', 'hepatitis B', 'rotavirus', 'Japanese encephalitis', 'typhoid', 'human papillomavirus', 'rubella']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/11/world-famous-architect-s-signature-health-ministry-building-damaged-in-fire

2025-09-14 20:22:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-14

World-famous architect’s signature health ministry building damaged in fire

Post Report

2025-09-11

Kathmandu

A building of the Ministry of Health and Population, designed by the world-famous American architect Louis I Kahn, has been damaged after protesters set it on fire on Tuesday. The building, completed in 1965, was originally constructed for the use of the Family Planning and Maternal Child Welfare Programme. The structure, which features two isometric brick blocks, a deep vertical window recess, and a rooftop parapet with sky-framing apertures, is among the few architectural masterpieces of the country. “The building is our unique architectural treasure,” said Dr Baburam Marasini, former director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. “Architecture students from the world’s prestigious universities used to visit this site to study Kahn’s designs until a few years ago.” The building endured the 1988 and 2015 mega earthquakes. Protesters during the 1979, 1990 and 2006 uprisings had spared the building. “I am deeply shocked by the damage protesters have inflicted on state properties,” said Marasini. “I witnessed the burning of the Singha Durbar in 1973, which was an accident. Several other protests—the 1979 student movement, the 1990 peoples movement, the Maoist insurgency and the 2015 mega earthquake—had not damaged the structure, but it gave in to the Gen-Z protest.”

Building Damage

Protest Damage to Architectural Landmark

['Ministry of Health and Population' 'Louis I Kahn' 'protesters' 'architectural treasure' 'state properties']

-0.8

Negative

[]

['Family Planning and Maternal Child Welfare Programme' 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division']

['Louis I Kahn' 'Dr Baburam Marasini']

['Ministry of Health and Population']

[]

1,296

0

2

1

0

{'Family Planning and Maternal Child Welfare Programme': 'Neutral', 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 'Neutral'}

{'Louis I Kahn': 'Neutral', 'Dr Baburam Marasini': 'Negative'}

null

{}

{'Family Planning and Maternal Child Welfare Programme': 0, 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 0}

{'Louis I Kahn': 0, 'Dr Baburam Marasini': -0.7}

null

{}

Both

{'disease1 name': 'not addressed'}

['Ministry of Health and Population']

1

{ "locations": {} }

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/26/550-000-doses-of-cholera-vaccine-arrive-more-coming-today

2025-09-26 07:06:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-26

550,000 doses of cholera vaccine arrive. More coming today

Post Report

2025-09-26

Kathmandu

Nepal on Thursday received 550,000 doses of anti-cholera vaccine from the Unicef and the World Health Organisation. Of the 1,018,100 doses the organisations committed to supply for the containment of the cholera, which has been spread since the first week of August in Birgunj Metropolitan City, and adjoining local units of Parsa and Bara districts, the remaining doses will arrive on Friday. “We received 550,000 doses of cholera vaccine today [Thursday],” said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “The remaining doses of the vaccine will arrive on Friday.” Cholera is a highly infectious disease that causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and death within a few hours if left untreated. The National Public Health Laboratory, which carried out tests on stool samples of the infected people, confirmed that Vibrio cholerae o1 Ogawa serotype is responsible for the outbreak. At least four people have died and over 1,500 others have been hospitalised in the two districts since last month. New cases are resurging in the local units of Parsa district including Birgunj Metropolitan City. Health officials said the number of new infections has quadrupled in the past week. Amid rising cases, the hospital administration has asked the provincial government to manage additional health workers. Officials say medics deputed earlier to assist the hospital have already returned. Health officials say that with increased rainfall and a halt to the door-to-door campaign due to unrest caused by Gen Z protests, cholera cases have begun rising again. Officials say all people above one year of age from all municipalities of Parsa district and six adjoining municipalities in Bara district, the areas hardest hit by the outbreak, will be administered with oral cholera vaccine immediately after the Dashain holidays. “Vaccination will be launched after Dashain only,” said Gautam. Public health experts say the Birgunj outbreak is the largest since the Jajarkot epidemic in 2009. Sixteen years ago, the far-western district of Jajarkot saw a major cholera outbreak that killed several and infected hundreds. They say the Birgunj outbreak exposes critical gaps in the government’s preparedness and response system, and water and sanitation conditions. Experts are particularly alarmed by both the severity of the outbreak and the deaths it has caused. Nepal often witnesses outbreaks of water- and food-borne diseases, including cholera, during the monsoon season as floodwaters contaminate most of the drinking water sources. Last year, at least 95 cholera cases were confirmed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Jajarkot, Pyuthan, Makawanpur, Rolpa, Sindhupalchok, Achham, and Rautahat districts. The health ministry administered cholera vaccine to people from the affected areas of Kapilvastu, Rautahat, and Kathmandu a few years ago to halt the spread of the disease. Poor sanitation and hygiene make the country highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, and cholera, especially in the monsoon season, according to doctors. They say the risk of waterborne diseases will not decrease until the water and sanitation conditions improve, and people get safe drinking water. Several other factors, including storage conditions, supply pipes, and pollution of water sources, also determine the quality of water supplied to households. The World Health Organisation says cholera is a global threat to public health, and a multifaceted approach is the key to controlling the disease and reducing deaths.

Cholera Outbreak in Nepal

Vaccination Efforts and Government Response

['cholera vaccine' 'Unicef' 'World Health Organisation' 'Nepal' 'Birgunj Metropolitan City' 'Parsa district' 'Bara district']

0.6

Negative

['cholera' 'diarrhoea' 'dysentery' 'typhoid' 'hepatitis']

[]

['Unicef' 'World Health Organisation' 'Department of Health Services' 'National Public Health Laboratory']

['Abhiyan Gautam']

['Nepal' 'Birgunj Metropolitan City' 'Parsa' 'Bara' 'Jajarkot' 'Kathmandu' 'Lalitpur' 'Pyuthan' 'Makawanpur' 'Rolpa' 'Sindhupalchok' 'Achham' 'Rautahat' 'Kapilvastu']

['anti-cholera vaccine' 'oral cholera vaccine']

[]

3,652

5

1

4

14

0

2

0

{'Department of Health Services': 'Neutral', 'National Public Health Laboratory': 'Neutral', 'Unicef': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive'}

{'Abhiyan Gautam': 'Neutral'}

{}

{'Department of Health Services': 0.2, 'National Public Health Laboratory': 0.2, 'Unicef': 0.8, 'World Health Organisation': 0.8}

{'Abhiyan Gautam': 0}

{}

Physical

{'cholera': 'addressed', 'diarrhoea': 'not addressed', 'dysentery': 'not addressed', 'hepatitis': 'not addressed', 'typhoid': 'not addressed'}

['Birgunj Metropolitan City', 'Parsa district', 'Bara district', 'Kathmandu', 'Lalitpur', 'Jajarkot', 'Pyuthan', 'Makawanpur', 'Rolpa', 'Sindhupalchok', 'Achham', 'Rautahat', 'Kapilvastu']

13

{'Achham': ['cholera'], 'Bara': ['cholera'], 'Jajarkot': ['cholera'], 'Kapilvastu': ['cholera'], 'Kathmandu': ['cholera'], 'Lalitpur': ['cholera'], 'Makwanpur': ['cholera'], 'Parsa': ['cholera'], 'Pyuthan': ['cholera'], 'Rautahat': ['cholera'], 'Rolpa': ['cholera'], 'Sindhupalchok': ['cholera']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/23/new-cholera-cases-quadruple-within-days-in-parsa

2025-09-24 07:09:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-26

Cholera cases jump in Parsa district

Arjun Poudel

2025-09-23

Kathmandu

A new infection of cholera, a deadly waterborne disease that first broke out in the first week of August, is starting to resurge in the local units of Parsa district including in Birgunj Metropolitan City. Health officials serving in the district said the number of new infections has risen fourfold in the last few days. “The number of new cases had declined to around six-seven until a few days ago,” said Jayamod Thakur, an official at the Health Office, Parsa. “But the number rose to 28 yesterday [Monday]. Hospitals are reporting a surge of new cases.” Cholera is a highly infectious disease that causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and death within a few hours if left untreated. The National Public Health Laboratory, which carried out tests on stool samples of the infected people, confirmed that Vibrio cholerae o1 Ogawa serotype is responsible for the outbreak. So far, at least four people have died and over 1,500 others hospitalised. Health officials working in the disease-hit areas say a dozen people are getting infected with the potentially fatal disease every day and it is still out of control despite their efforts. “We had 24 new cases on Sunday, 14 on Monday and already seven cases this morning [Tuesday],” said Dr Chuman lal Das, superintendent at the Birgunj-based Narayani Hospital. “We are preparing to run a separate gastro ward to address the growing number of cholera patients.” With cases of cholera infection surging again, the hospital administration has sought help from the provincial government to manage additional human resources. Officials say that medics deputed earlier to assist the hospital have already returned. “Yes, Narayani Hospital has asked for more manpower from the provincial government,” said Thakur. “Besides, we have also sought help from religious leaders of the district for help with the awareness campaign.” Health officials say that with an increase in rainfall and a halt to the door-to-door campaign due to the unrest caused by Gen-Z protest, infection of cholera started to rise again. “We have decided to deploy health workers in the door-to-door campaign, teach chlorination techniques to locals and motivate them for a behavioural change,” said Thakur. “Along with this, we have also requested religious leaders to ask people of their respective faiths to drink only safe water.” Public health experts say the Birgunj outbreak is the largest since the Jajarkot epidemic in 2009. Sixteen years ago, the far-western district of Jajarkot saw a major cholera outbreak that killed several and infected hundreds. They say the Birgunj outbreak exposes critical gaps in the government’s preparedness and response system, and water and sanitation conditions. Experts are particularly alarmed by both the severity of the outbreak and the deaths it has caused. Nepal often witnesses outbreaks of water- and food-borne diseases, including cholera, during the monsoon season as floodwaters contaminate most of the drinking water sources. Last year, at least 95 cholera cases were confirmed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Jajarkot, Pyuthan, Makawanpur, Rolpa, Sindhupalchok, Achham, and Rautahat districts. The health ministry administered cholera vaccine to people from the affected areas of Kapilvastu, Rautahat, and Kathmandu a few years ago to halt the spread of the disease. Poor sanitation and hygiene make the country highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, and cholera, especially in the monsoon season, according to doctors. They say the risk of waterborne diseases will not decrease until the water and sanitation conditions improve, and people get safe drinking water. Several other factors, including storage conditions, supply pipes, and pollution of water sources, also determine the quality of water supplied to households. The World Health Organisation says cholera is a global threat to public health, and a multifaceted approach is the key to controlling the disease and reducing deaths. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Population said they are preparing to administer the anti-cholera vaccine in the disease hit areas. Officials say that over 1.18 million people in Parsa and Bara districts will be inoculated in a mass vaccination drive set to start upon the arrival of doses, possibly within days. The Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation, the Global Task Force on Cholera Control, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children’s Fund have all agreed to support vaccine delivery and immunisation.

Cholera Outbreak

Resurgence in Parsa District

['cholera' 'Parsa district' 'Birgunj Metropolitan City' 'waterborne disease' 'Vibrio cholerae' 'outbreak' 'Nepal' 'public health']

-0.8

Negative

['cholera' 'diarrhoea' 'dysentery' 'typhoid' 'hepatitis']

['Narayani Hospital']

['National Public Health Laboratory' 'Ministry of Health and Population' 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation' 'Global Task Force on Cholera Control' 'International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' 'World Health Organisation' 'United Nations Children’s Fund']

['Jayamod Thakur' 'Dr Chuman lal Das']

['Parsa district' 'Birgunj Metropolitan City' 'Jajarkot' 'Kathmandu' 'Lalitpur' 'Pyuthan' 'Makawanpur' 'Rolpa' 'Sindhupalchok' 'Achham' 'Rautahat' 'Nepal' 'Kapilvastu' 'Bara']

['anti-cholera vaccine']

[]

4,650

5

2

7

14

0

1

{'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation': 'Positive', 'Global Task Force on Cholera Control': 'Positive', 'International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies': 'Positive', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Neutral', 'National Public Health Laboratory': 'Neutral', 'United Nations Children’s Fund': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Chuman lal Das': 'Neutral', 'Jayamod Thakur': 'Neutral'}

{}

{'Narayani Hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation': 0.8, 'Global Task Force on Cholera Control': 0.8, 'International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies': 0.8, 'Ministry of Health and Population': 0, 'National Public Health Laboratory': 0, 'United Nations Children’s Fund': 0.8, 'World Health Organisation': 0.8}

{'Dr Chuman lal Das': 0, 'Jayamod Thakur': 0}

{}

{'Narayani Hospital': 0}

Physical

{'cholera': 'addressed', 'diarrhoea': 'not addressed', 'dysentery': 'not addressed', 'hepatitis': 'not addressed', 'typhoid': 'not addressed'}

['Parsa district', 'Birgunj Metropolitan City', 'Kathmandu', 'Lalitpur', 'Jajarkot', 'Pyuthan', 'Makawanpur', 'Rolpa', 'Sindhupalchok', 'Achham', 'Rautahat districts', 'Kapilvastu', 'Bara districts']

13

{'Achham': ['cholera'], 'Bara': ['cholera'], 'Jajarkot': ['cholera'], 'Kapilvastu': ['cholera'], 'Kathmandu': ['cholera'], 'Lalitpur': ['cholera'], 'Makwanpur': ['cholera'], 'Parsa': ['cholera'], 'Pyuthan': ['cholera'], 'Rautahat': ['cholera'], 'Rolpa': ['cholera'], 'Sindhupalchok': ['cholera']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/22/health-workers-warn-of-malaria-and-dengue-surge-after-festive-season

2025-09-22 18:56:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-26

Health workers warn of malaria and dengue surge after festive season

Post Report

2025-09-22

Kathmandu

The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division has alerted health workers serving at the health desks set up at international border crossings and other places about the risk of looming malaria and dengue outbreaks. Officials say that thousands of migrant workers return home from India during Dashain and Tihar festivals, and some of them could also import malaria unknowingly. The 15-day Dashain, Nepal’s biggest festival, began Monday. Similarly, as the post-monsoon season, which is a peak dengue season, is set to start, the risk of dengue increases. “We are already struggling to contain the spread of malaria and dengue,” said Dr Chandra Bhal Jha, director at the division. “Many Nepalis work as migrant workers in India and some of them could have been infected with malaria. As malaria spreading mosquitoes are already present in the country, the risk of outbreak is high.” Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. Infected female Anopheles mosquitoes carry these deadly parasites, according to the World Health Organisation. Nepal has already missed its malaria elimination deadline multiple times, and it has now been postponed to 2030. Officials say new cases of both indigenous and imported malaria continue to rise each year, and with both existing and emerging challenges, experts are sceptical about the country’s ability to eliminate the disease even within the next five years. Open borders, global movements and mosquitoes moving to higher altitudes due to climate change pose challenges to the elimination goal, they said. This year, around a dozen cases of indigenous cases of malaria infection have been reported. Indigenous malaria cases are locally transmitted as infected persons do not have a history of travel to malaria-affected countries. Meanwhile imported cases are those in people with a history of travel to malaria-hit areas or countries. To eliminate malaria, the country should bring down indigenous cases or local transmission of the disease to zero, achieve zero deaths from 2023, and sustain zero cases for three consecutive years, according to the World Health Organisation. Of the total imported cases, over 80 percent have come from India. Due to proximity, and an open and porous border between Nepal and India and unregulated travel of people of both countries, it is impossible to eliminate malaria here in Nepal, until the disease gets eliminated in India, said experts. The problem is not only that Nepali migrant workers get infected in various cities of India, but also Nepali peacekeepers serving in various African nations, who bring the disease home, where it later becomes indigenous due to transmission from local vectors. This year, three deaths and around 5,000 cases of dengue infection have been reported in Nepal since January. The disease has spread to 74 of the country’s 77 districts. Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by female Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organisation, the same vector also transmits chikungunya, yellow fever, and the Zika virus. Dengue mosquitoes breed in clean water and bite during daytime. Uncovered water tanks and discarded objects such as plastic cups and bottles can serve as breeding grounds. In 2024, 15 people died, and 41,865 others were infected as the virus spread to 76 districts. In 2023, 88 persons died and more than 54,000 were infected by the virus, which had spread to all 77 districts. At the time, hospitals in Kathmandu Valley were overwhelmed with dengue patients, and pharmacies had run out of paracetamol, the most widely used medicine to treat fever. Experts say reported cases may represent only a small fraction of the true scale of infection, as around 90 percent of the infected people are asymptomatic, and many deaths and infections often go unreported. Symptoms of the disease include mild to high fever, severe muscle pain, rashes, severe headache and pain in the eyes, among other things. Doctors advise those with these symptoms to seek immediate treatment. While there is no specific cure for the disease, early detection and access to proper medical care can lower fatalities. Many people infected with dengue show mild symptoms, which do not need any treatment or can be managed with paracetamol at home. Since dengue became endemic in Nepal years ago, meaning people get infected throughout the year, health officials no longer classify it as an outbreak of a deadly virus. In the worst-case scenario, over 60,000 people could get infected with the dengue virus in the next three months, according to a projection prepared by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. Doctors say that, along with launching a search-and-destroy drive on a regular basis, authorities should also focus on strengthening the capacity of health facilities to prevent them from being overwhelmed in the event of a possible massive outbreak, experts say. Nepal reported its first dengue case in a foreigner in 2004 in Chitwan district. Since then, an increasing number of dengue infections, including major outbreaks, have been reported from many districts. The World Health Organisation says there is no specific cure for severe dengue, but early detection and access to proper medical care can save lives.

Malaria and Dengue Outbreaks

Risks and Challenges in Nepal

['malaria' 'dengue' 'outbreaks' 'Nepal' 'India' 'migrant workers' 'public health' 'disease control']

0.6

Negative

['malaria' 'dengue' 'chikungunya' 'yellow fever' 'Zika virus']

[]

['Epidemiology and Disease Control Division' 'World Health Organisation']

['Dr Chandra Bhal Jha']

['Nepal' 'India' 'African nations' 'Kathmandu Valley' 'Chitwan district']

['paracetamol']

[]

5,267

5

1

2

5

0

1

0

{'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Chandra Bhal Jha': 'Neutral'}

{'Dengue Control': 'Negative', 'Malaria Elimination': 'Negative'}

{'Nepal': 'Neutral'}

{'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 0, 'World Health Organisation': 0.8}

{'Dr Chandra Bhal Jha': 0}

{'Dengue Control': -0.8, 'Malaria Elimination': -0.9}

{'Nepal': 0}

Physical

{'Zika virus': 'not addressed', 'chikungunya': 'not addressed', 'dengue': 'addressed', 'malaria': 'addressed', 'yellow fever': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal', 'India', 'African nations', 'Kathmandu Valley', 'Chitwan district']

5

{'Chitwan': ['dengue']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/22/cholera-vaccine-may-arrive-within-a-week

2025-09-22 07:08:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-26

Cholera vaccine may arrive within a week

Post Report

2025-09-22

Kathmandu

Residents of Birgunj Metropolitan City, along with several local units of Parsa and Bara districts, are all set to be inoculated with an anti-cholera vaccine, as preparation to import doses at the earliest are in full swing. Officials at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services said they have applied to the Department of Drug Administration, the national drug regulator, for approval to import the vaccine, and they expect the shipment to arrive before the Dashain festival, which is just over a week away. “We have done our homework to administer the vaccine doses to at-risk populations,” said Dr Bibek Kumar Lal, director at the division. “We expect the arrival of vaccine doses before Dashain. Only the approval for vaccine import remains, and we have already started the process.” Cholera is a highly infectious disease that causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and death within a few hours if left untreated. The National Public Health Laboratory, which carried out testing on stool samples of the infected people, confirmed that Vibrio cholerae o1 Ogawa serotype is responsible for the outbreak. At least four people have died and over 1,400 were infected from cholera outbreak in the first week of August in Birgunj metropolis and adjoining local units, and neighbouring Bara district. Health authorities reached the conclusion that spread of infection could continue if vaccination is not started. Around a dozen people are still getting infected and hospitalised every day in the disease hit areas, according to health officials. “Vaccination is an effective and proven method for the control of cholera,” said Lal. “Not only the government but also international aid agencies have agreed to vaccination and offered help for containment.” The Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation, Global Task Force on Cholera Control, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children’s Fund have all agreed to support vaccine delivery and immunisation. “We have done our part and are ready to begin the campaign as soon as the doses arrive,” said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “Over 1.8 million people from affected areas of Parsa and Bara districts will be inoculated.” Alongside preparations for mass vaccination, several measures, including door-to-door awareness campaigns and the distribution of educational materials, have been launched in the affected areas, according to officials. Several teams of federal, provincial and local health workers, and the WHO are all working on the ground to help contain the outbreak. Public health experts say the Birgunj outbreak is the largest since the Jajarkot epidemic in 2009. Sixteen years ago, the far-western district saw a major cholera outbreak that killed several and infected hundreds. Experts say that the Birgunj outbreak exposes critical gaps in the government’s preparedness and response system, and water and sanitation conditions. Experts are particularly alarmed by both the severity of the outbreak and the deaths it has caused. Nepal often witnesses outbreaks of water- and food-borne diseases, including cholera, during the monsoon season as floodwaters contaminate most of the drinking water sources. Last year, at least 95 cholera cases were confirmed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Jajarkot, Pyuthan, Makawanpur, Rolpa, Sindhupalchok, Achham, and Rautahat districts. The health ministry administered cholera vaccine to people from affected areas of Kapilvastu, Rautahat, and Kathmandu a few years ago to contain the further spread of the disease. Experts say poor sanitation and hygiene make the country highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, and cholera, especially in the monsoon season. They say the risk of waterborne diseases will not decrease until the water and sanitation conditions improve, and people get safe drinking water. Several other factors, including storage conditions, supply pipes, and pollution of water sources, also impact the quality of water supplied to households. The World Health Organisation says cholera is a global threat to public health, and a multifaceted approach is key to controlling the disease and reducing deaths.

Cholera Outbreak

Vaccination Efforts

['Cholera' 'Vaccination' 'Nepal' 'Birgunj' 'Outbreak' 'Public Health']

0.5

Neutral

['cholera' 'diarrhoea' 'dysentery' 'typhoid' 'hepatitis']

[]

['Department of Health Services' 'Family Welfare Division' 'Department of Drug Administration' 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation' 'Global Task Force on Cholera Control' 'International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' 'World Health Organisation' 'United Nations Children’s Fund']

['Dr Bibek Kumar Lal' 'Dr Abhiyan Gautam']

['Birgunj Metropolitan City' 'Parsa' 'Bara' 'Jajarkot' 'Kathmandu' 'Lalitpur' 'Pyuthan' 'Makawanpur' 'Rolpa' 'Sindhupalchok' 'Achham' 'Rautahat' 'Nepal']

['anti-cholera vaccine']

[]

4,405

5

2

8

13

0

1

0

{'Department of Drug Administration': 'Positive', 'Department of Health Services': 'Positive', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Positive', 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation': 'Positive', 'Global Task Force on Cholera Control': 'Positive', 'International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies': 'Positive', 'United Nations Children’s Fund': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Abhiyan Gautam': 'Positive', 'Dr Bibek Kumar Lal': 'Positive'}

{'Cholera Vaccine': 'Positive', 'Government Preparedness and Response System Reform': 'Negative', 'Water and Sanitation Conditions Improvement': 'Negative'}

{'Department of Health Services': 'Positive', 'National Public Health Laboratory': 'Neutral', 'United Nations Children’s Fund': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive'}

{'Department of Drug Administration': 0.8, 'Department of Health Services': 0.8, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.9, 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation': 0.9, 'Global Task Force on Cholera Control': 0.9, 'International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies': 0.8, 'United Nations Children’s Fund': 0.8, 'World Health Organisation': 0.9}

{'Dr Abhiyan Gautam': 1, 'Dr Bibek Kumar Lal': 1}

{'Cholera Vaccine': 1, 'Government Preparedness and Response System Reform': -1, 'Water and Sanitation Conditions Improvement': -1}

{'Department of Health Services': 0.8, 'National Public Health Laboratory': 0, 'United Nations Children’s Fund': 0.9, 'World Health Organisation': 0.9}

Physical

{'cholera': 'addressed', 'diarrhoea': 'not addressed', 'dysentery': 'not addressed', 'hepatitis': 'not addressed', 'typhoid': 'not addressed'}

['Birgunj Metropolitan City', 'Parsa district', 'Bara district', 'Kapilvastu', 'Rautahat', 'Kathmandu', 'Lalitpur', 'Jajarkot', 'Pyuthan', 'Makawanpur', 'Rolpa', 'Sindhupalchok', 'Achham']

13

{'Achham': ['cholera'], 'Bara': ['cholera'], 'Jajarkot': ['cholera'], 'Kapilvastu': ['cholera'], 'Kathmandu': ['cholera', 'diarrhoea', 'dysentery', 'typhoid', 'hepatitis'], 'Lalitpur': ['cholera'], 'Makawanpur': ['cholera'], 'Parsa': ['cholera'], 'Pyuthan': ['cholera'], 'Rautahat': ['cholera'], 'Rolpa': ['cholera'], 'Sindhupalchok': ['cholera']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/18/children-teens-show-mental-health-problems-after-gen-z-protest

2025-09-18 20:31:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-26

Children, teens show mental health problems after Gen Z protest

Arjun Poudel

2025-09-18

Kathmandu

An eight year-old girl from Kathmandu was rushed to Kanti Children’s Hospital, Maharajgunj after she stopped sleeping in the night and remained anxious all the time. Doctors attending the patient said that the girl had been telling her parents to leave the house, fearing someone could set it on fire. “The girl’s parents complained that she screams and cries even when they go to the washroom and close the door,” said Dr Arun Kunwar, child and adolescent psychiatrist. “Her parents worried that even small sounds or noise of people talking nearby makes her fearful. The girl also feared going to school.” As many people across the country have been still in shock over deaths and devastation triggered by last week’s Gen Z protest, this has become a common refrain among hundreds of children and adolescents, who were taken to hospital for treatment or kept at home despite having problems. According to the latest count, at least 74 people have been confirmed dead and over 1,800 injured in the protest launched by youths against rampant corruption and social media ban, after the toll rose with more deaths among the injured and bodies were found in burnt buildings. “The number of children and adolescents having mental health issues triggered by last week’s Gen Z protest have increased significantly in our hospital,” said Kunwar. “Many patients have acute stress reactions, which cause insomnia. We have also prescribed sleep medication to some patients.” Problems are more serious among those, who were already having mental health issues. Many people were shocked when they saw the terrifying scenes of the mayhem on social media or television, last week. Doctors say some of the children and adolescents had seen devastation on their own, and some had even taken part in the protest. “One of the patient’s friends died in the incident,” said Dr Basudev Karki, a consultant psychiatrist at Nepal Mental Hospital. “The patient had suicidal thoughts and complained that there is no point in living.” Most patients have sought treatment at the hospital’s outpatient department, some have visited private clinics. Doctors and mental health experts the Post talked to said that most patients suffer from sleep disorders. They recount the incidents repeatedly and get worried about the repetition of the incident. Some feared leaving home or going to school. “A 16 year-old girl has been brought to our emergency at present, and she is also disturbed by last week’s incident,” said Karki. “We have been teaching relaxation techniques and prescribing sleep medication to others.” Experts—psychologists and psychiatrists—say the flare-up of mental health issues in the aftermath of major disasters is a common phenomenon. They alerted the authorities concerned to the risks and called for timely measures to address them. “The rise of mental health problems in the aftermath of disasters is an obvious occurrence, not only in Nepal but everywhere,” said Dr Karki. “So the agencies concerned should prepare for it.” According to a study carried out in the aftermath of the Gorkha earthquake of 2015, which killed around 9,000 people and injured thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands across the country, there was a 34 percent rise in anxiety and depression in the major quake-hit districts—Kathmandu, Gorkha and Sindhupalchok. The study found a 20 percent increase in alcohol use and an 11 percent increase in suicidal thoughts among the displaced people. Excessive anger was reported by around 34 percent of the respondents. Over five percent of people had elevated rates of posttraumatic stress disorder. The report shows that 42 percent of people reported that ‘distress’ was a serious problem in their community. Likewise, mental health problems surged during the Covid pandemic (2020-21). Experts say ensuring easy access to counselling services, timely detection of mental health problems, imparting life skills, and creating general awareness are some ways to address mental health problems. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Population said it has discussed with multiple stakeholders including the UN agencies–representatives of the World Health Organisation, United Nations Children’s Fund and multiple other national and international organisations about the growing mental health issues. “We have decided to launch measures for the next six months,” said Dr Phanindra Baral, chief of the mental health section at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. “We have also decided to launch awareness campaigns via social media platforms, which Gen Z uses the most.” Officials say that health workers have also been instructed to assess the psycho-social condition of vulnerable populations, and school health nurses have been asked to identify students suffering from mental health trauma, among other issues. They say reports of a surge in mental health problems have also been coming from districts following last week’s violent protests.

Mental Health

Impact of Gen Z Protest on Children and Adolescents

['Gen Z Protest' 'Mental Health Issues' 'Children and Adolescents' 'Anxiety' 'Depression' 'Sleep Disorders' 'Trauma' 'Counselling Services']

0.8

Negative

['anxiety' 'depression' 'posttraumatic stress disorder' 'insomnia' 'acute stress reactions' 'sleep disorders']

['Kanti Children’s Hospital' 'Nepal Mental Hospital']

['Ministry of Health and Population' 'World Health Organisation' 'United Nations Children’s Fund']

['Dr Arun Kunwar' 'Dr Basudev Karki' 'Dr Phanindra Baral']

['Kathmandu' 'Maharajgunj' 'Gorkha' 'Sindhupalchok' 'Nepal']

['sleep medication']

['Gen Z protest']

4,972

6

3

5

1

2

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Neutral', 'United Nations Children’s Fund': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Arun Kunwar': 'Neutral', 'Dr Basudev Karki': 'Neutral', 'Dr Phanindra Baral': 'Neutral'}

{'Gen Z protest': 'Negative'}

{'Kanti Children’s Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Nepal Mental Hospital': 'Positive'}

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 0, 'United Nations Children’s Fund': 0, 'World Health Organisation': 0}

{'Dr Arun Kunwar': 0, 'Dr Basudev Karki': 0, 'Dr Phanindra Baral': 0}

{'Gen Z protest': -1}

{'Kanti Children’s Hospital': 0, 'Nepal Mental Hospital': 0.5}

Mental

{'acute stress reactions': 'addressed', 'anxiety': 'addressed', 'depression': 'addressed', 'insomnia': 'addressed', 'posttraumatic stress disorder': 'addressed', 'sleep disorders': 'addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Kathmandu', 'Gorkha', 'Sindhupalchok']

4

{'Gorkha': ['Anxiety', 'Depression', 'Alcohol use', 'Suicidal thoughts', 'Posttraumatic stress disorder', 'Distress'], 'Kathmandu': ['Acute stress reaction', 'Insomnia', 'Sleep disorder', 'Anxiety', 'Depression', 'Alcohol use', 'Suicidal thoughts', 'Posttraumatic stress disorder', 'Distress'], 'Sindhupalchok': ['Anxiety', 'Depression', 'Alcohol use', 'Suicidal thoughts', 'Posttraumatic stress disorder', 'Distress']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/17/central-blood-bank-in-surplus-as-gen-z-protest-spurred-donations

2025-09-17 06:53:00

kathmandu_post

2025-09-26

Central blood bank in surplus as Gen Z protest spurred donations

Post Report

2025-09-17

Kathmandu

Unlike in the past, the Central Blood Transfusion Service is not facing an acute blood shortage during this year’s Dashain festival, which is two weeks away, as there is sufficient stock in place. Following last week’s Gen Z protests, a surge of panic donations has led to the service, better known as blood bank, to ask the public to donate only when there is a need or an official request for it, officials say. “For the first time in several years, we will not have a blood shortage during Dashain,” said Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, senior technical officer at the transfusion service. “We need more blood after Dashain, during Tihar and Chhath festivals so we have been requesting prospective donors to donate only when requested.” Every year during major festive seasons, patients in Kathmandu Valley reel under acute scarcity of blood. People from outside the Valley who come to the capital city for surgery have suffered the most. The blood bank has had to appeal to the general public and organisations for donations, and relatives of patients have often been asked to donate for replacement. Officials in the Valley would even request Red Cross offices in other districts to send blood. Hundreds of youths in the Valley and across the country have donated blood voluntarily after the September 8 carnage caused by brutal use of force against youth demonstrators, who were protesting rampant corruption in the country. Officials say that the bank already has over 1,000 pints of blood in stock and daily collections are more than enough to meet demand. Currently, over 150 people are donating blood every day and that is sufficient to cover hospital needs. Most major hospitals also have their own blood banks, which collect and supply blood to patients. “Panic donations and the postponement of elective surgeries by major hospitals in Kathmandu Valley have created a surplus in blood banks,” said Yadav. “Hospitals will resume planned surgeries after Dashain, when demand for blood will rise. Unnecessary collection now could lead to waste.” As the risk of major dengue outbreak still persists and the post monsoon season is considered a high-risk season, officials say demand for the fresh blood could rise after Dashain. They say if donation programmes are not carried out prudently, it would be difficult to manage the looming crisis.

Blood Shortage

Dashain Festival

['blood donation' 'Dashain festival' 'blood shortage' 'Central Blood Transfusion Service' 'Kathmandu Valley']

0.7

Positive

['dengue']

['major hospitals']

['Central Blood Transfusion Service' 'Red Cross']

['Sanjeev Kumar Yadav']

['Kathmandu Valley' 'Nepal']

[]

2,342

1

2

0

1

{'Central Blood Transfusion Service': 'Positive', 'Red Cross': 'Neutral'}

{'Sanjeev Kumar Yadav': 'Positive'}

{'Central Blood Transfusion Service': 'Neutral', 'Chhath festival': 'Neutral', 'Dashain festival': 'Neutral', 'Gen Z protests': 'Neutral', 'Tihar festival': 'Neutral', 'blood bank': 'Neutral'}

{'Central Blood Transfusion Service': 'Positive'}

{'Central Blood Transfusion Service': 0.8, 'Red Cross': 0}

{'Sanjeev Kumar Yadav': 1}

{'Central Blood Transfusion Service': 0, 'Chhath festival': 0, 'Dashain festival': 0, 'Gen Z protests': 0, 'Tihar festival': 0, 'blood bank': 0}

{'Central Blood Transfusion Service': 0.9}

physical

{'Dengue': 'to be addressed'}

['Kathmandu Valley', 'Kathmandu', 'districts', 'country']

4

{'Kathmandu': ['dengue']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/10/11/anti-cholera-immunisation-drive-to-kick-off-next-week

2025-10-11 07:19:00

kathmandu_post

2025-10-12

Anti-cholera immunisation drive to kick off next week

Post Report

2025-10-11

Kathmandu

All individuals above one year of age from Parsa and those residing in six disease-hit local units of Bara will be administered anti-cholera vaccines in a drive set to start next week. At least four people are confirmed dead and over 1,800 have been infected with diarrhoea, which first broke out in Birgunj Metropolitan City in the first week of August and later spread to parts of the district and adjoining local units of Bara. Despite multiple efforts to contain the spread of the disease, new cases are resurging in Parsa, including Birgunj. Health officials said health facilities in Birgunj have been recording over a dozen cholera cases every day. “Preparations are in full swing to start the campaign,” said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “We have already received 1,018,100 doses of vaccine from our development partners.” Cholera is a highly infectious disease that causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and death within a few hours if left untreated. The National Public Health Laboratory, which tested stool samples of the infected, confirmed that Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa serotype is responsible for the outbreak. Officials at the Ministry of Health and Population said that the vaccine, vaccination materials, and campaign operation costs have been provided through the International Coordination Group on Vaccine Provision (ICG). The campaign will be carried out with technical support from the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children’s Fund. The vaccination campaign will cover all 14 local units of Parsa district and six disease-hit local units—Kalaiya Sub-Metropolitan City, Jitpur-Simara Sub-Metropolitan City, Parwanipur Rural Municipality, Prasauni Rural Municipality, Pheta Rural Municipality, and Bishrampur Rural Municipality. Public health experts say the Birgunj outbreak is the largest since the Jajarkot epidemic in 2009, which killed several people and infected hundreds. They say the outbreak exposes serious gaps in the government’s preparedness, response system, and water and sanitation conditions. Experts are alarmed by both the severity of the outbreak and the deaths it has caused. Nepal often witnesses outbreaks of water- and food-borne diseases, including cholera, during the monsoon season as floodwaters contaminate drinking water sources. Last year, at least 95 cholera cases were confirmed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Jajarkot, Pyuthan, Makawanpur, Rolpa, Sindhupalchok, Achham, and Rautahat districts. The Health Ministry had previously administered cholera vaccines in Kapilvastu, Rautahat, and Kathmandu to prevent the spread of the disease. Poor sanitation and hygiene make Nepal highly vulnerable to water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, and cholera, especially during the monsoon. Doctors say the risk will persist until water and sanitation conditions improve and people have access to safe drinking water. Factors such as storage conditions, supply pipes, and pollution of water sources also affect the quality of water supplied to households. The World Health Organisation says cholera is a global public health threat, and a multifaceted approach is key to controlling the disease and reducing deaths.

Cholera Outbreak

Vaccination Campaign

['cholera' 'vaccination' 'Nepal' 'outbreak' 'diarrhoea' 'vaccine' 'public health']

0.6

Negative

['cholera' 'diarrhoea' 'dysentery' 'typhoid' 'hepatitis']

[]

['Department of Health Services' 'Family Welfare Division' 'International Coordination Group on Vaccine Provision' 'World Health Organisation' 'United Nations Children’s Fund' 'Ministry of Health and Population' 'National Public Health Laboratory']

['Dr Abhiyan Gautam']

['Parsa' 'Bara' 'Birgunj Metropolitan City' 'Nepal' 'Kathmandu' 'Lalitpur' 'Jajarkot' 'Pyuthan' 'Makawanpur' 'Rolpa' 'Sindhupalchok' 'Achham' 'Rautahat' 'Kalaiya Sub-Metropolitan City' 'Jitpur-Simara Sub-Metropolitan City' 'Parwanipur Rural Municipality' 'Prasauni Rural Municipality' 'Pheta Rural Municipality' 'Bishrampur Rural Municipality' 'Kapilvastu']

['anti-cholera vaccines']

[]

3,328

5

1

7

20

0

1

0

{'Department of Health Services': 'Positive', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Positive', 'International Coordination Group on Vaccine Provision': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive', 'United Nations Children’s Fund': 'Positive', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Positive', 'National Public Health Laboratory': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Abhiyan Gautam': 'Positive'}

{}

null

{'Department of Health Services': 0.3, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.4, 'International Coordination Group on Vaccine Provision': 0.4, 'World Health Organisation': 0.4, 'United Nations Children’s Fund': 0.4, 'Ministry of Health and Population': 0.3, 'National Public Health Laboratory': 0.3}

{'Dr Abhiyan Gautam': 0.7}

{}

null

Physical

{'cholera': 'to be addressed', 'diarrhoea': 'not addressed', 'dysentery': 'not addressed', 'typhoid': 'not addressed', 'hepatitis': 'not addressed'}

['Parsa district', 'Birgunj Metropolitan City', 'Kalaiya Sub-Metropolitan City', 'Jitpur-Simara Sub-Metropolitan City', 'Parwanipur Rural Municipality', 'Prasauni Rural Municipality', 'Pheta Rural Municipality', 'Bishrampur Rural Municipality', 'Bara district']

9

{'Achham': ['cholera'], 'Bara': ['diarrhoea', 'cholera'], 'Jajarkot': ['cholera'], 'Kapilvastu': ['cholera'], 'Kathmandu': ['cholera'], 'Lalitpur': ['cholera'], 'Makawanpur': ['cholera'], 'Parsa': ['diarrhoea', 'cholera'], 'Pyuthan': ['cholera'], 'Rautahat': ['cholera'], 'Rolpa': ['cholera'], 'Sindhupalchok': ['cholera']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/10/10/crucial-health-programmes-on-hold-as-health-ministry-remains-headless

2025-10-10 19:08:00

kathmandu_post

2025-10-12

Crucial health programmes on hold as health ministry remains headless

Arjun Poudel

2025-10-10

Kathmandu

The Ministry of Health and Population has not been able to decide on a plan to study the nutrition status of thousands of people displaced by recent landslides and floods across the country, due to the changed political scenario and the absence of a dedicated health minister. Amid growing risk of deteriorating nutrition status, especially among small children, pregnant women, and new mothers in the aftermath of the disaster, stepping up surveillance measures is the basic duty of health authorities. However, due to confusion created owing to political change last month, the new government’s decision to withhold spending, fear of retribution from the new administration, and delays in appointing a new health minister, officials have decided to wait and see. Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who was appointed head of the government on September 12, has yet to give full shape to her Cabinet, which currently has eight members. “Except for launching an anti-cholera vaccination drive in Parsa and Bara district, we have been told not to start any new programmes,” said Lila Bikram Thapa, chief of Nutrition Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “The risk of a surge in severe acute malnutrition is high among the displaced population, especially children, pregnant women and new mothers, but we have been asked to wait and see for now.”Over 3,500 people have been displaced by recent floods in Koshi province and in other parts of the country. Those people have been taking refuse in makeshift shelters. Along with a halt in surveillance measures for the displaced population, several programmes of public health of every department under the Health Ministry have been suspended indefinitely, multiple officials the Post talked to said. Malnutrition is considered a silent health crisis in Nepal. The country has made significant progress in reducing stunting among children under five, which decreased from 57 percent in 2001 to 25 percent in 2022, according to the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022. The report showed some improvement in the country’s overall nutrition status, but progress is not the same in all provinces. More than 16 percent of the children under five years in Lumbini Province are found to be suffering from wasting—the most immediate, visible, and life-threatening form of malnutrition. Wasting, a debilitating disease that causes muscle and fat tissues to waste away among children under five, decreased from 11 percent in 2001 to eight percent in 2022. Wasting or low weight for one’s height in children, if not treated properly and on time, is associated with a higher mortality risk, according to the World Health Organisation. What concerns health officials much is that displaced people generally do not receive adequate nutritious foods or timely access to health care services, which increases the risk of rising severely acute malnutrition cases. Several agencies and organisations distribute relief materials to displaced people, including junk foods like noodles and biscuits, which could contribute to the increase in malnutrition cases, they say. “Launching awareness drives about risks, ensuring safe drinking water, distributing nutritious food, ensuring timely care, and protecting them from water- and vector-borne diseases are basic things health agencies are supposed to do,” said Thapa. “But we are in no position to make a decision regarding all those matters.” Improving the overall nutrition status of the population is also part of the country's commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDGs, a follow-up to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), aim to end poverty and hunger and all forms of inequality in the world by 2030. Several other health programmes related to child and maternal health, vector-borne diseases, non-communicable diseases, data collection, and research have been affected by the confusion created by the ongoing political turmoil. The current paralysis at the health ministry follows last month’s sudden political upheaval, when an anti-corruption movement ousted the KP Oli government and a non-political interim administration was installed with a mandate to hold new elections in March next year. “We have been told that the budget brought by the erstwhile government could be revised and asked not to spend on anything,” an official at the Department of Health Services told the Post, asking not to be named, as she is not authorised to speak to the media. “We are working on a breakdown of only those programmes that have secured funding from UN agencies.”

Health Crisis

Malnutrition in Nepal

['Malnutrition' 'Nepal' 'Displaced Population' 'Floods' 'Landslides' 'Health Ministry' 'Nutrition Status']

0.7

Negative

['cholera' 'malnutrition' 'wasting' 'stunting' 'vector-borne diseases' 'non-communicable diseases']

[]

['Ministry of Health and Population' 'Department of Health Services' 'Family Welfare Division' 'World Health Organisation' 'UN agencies']

['Sushila Karki' 'Lila Bikram Thapa' 'KP Oli']

['Nepal' 'Parsa' 'Bara' 'Koshi province' 'Lumbini Province']

['anti-cholera vaccination']

['Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)' 'Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)']

4,616

6

3

5

2

1

0

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Negative', 'Department of Health Services': 'Neutral', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'UN agencies': 'Neutral'}

{'Sushila Karki': 'Negative', 'Lila Bikram Thapa': 'Positive', 'KP Oli': 'Neutral'}

{'Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)': 'Positive', 'Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)': 'Neutral'}

{'NoHospitalProvided': 'Neutral'}

{'Ministry of Health and Population': -0.7, 'Department of Health Services': 0, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.5, 'World Health Organisation': 0, 'UN agencies': 0}

{'Sushila Karki': -0.6, 'Lila Bikram Thapa': 0.7, 'KP Oli': 0.0}

{'Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)': 0.6, 'Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)': 0.0}

{'NoHospitalProvided': 0}

Physical

{'cholera': 'not addressed', 'malnutrition': 'not addressed', 'wasting': 'not addressed', 'stunting': 'not addressed', 'vector-borne diseases': 'not addressed', 'non-communicable diseases': 'not addressed'}

['Koshi province', 'Lumbini Province', 'Parsa district', 'Bara district', 'Nepal']

5

{'Bara': ['cholera'], 'Parsa': ['cholera']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/10/08/je-is-surging-and-killing-people-but-nepal-has-no-vaccine

2025-10-08 20:23:00

kathmandu_post

2025-10-12

JE is surging and killing people, but Nepal has no vaccine

Post Report

2025-10-08

Kathmandu

Since June, 31 people have died and 133 others have been infected with the Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus in Nepal. Both deaths and the number of infections are at their highest levels in recent years, health officials say. According to data from the Ministry of Health and Population, 74 percent of those who died from JE were above 40 years of age, which means the unvaccinated population is at high risk of getting severe and dying. “We are aware of the rising death toll from JE and are making every effort to make people aware of the risks,” said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “Mass vaccination of the unvaccinated population could lessen the death rate and prevent severity, but we don’t have vaccines available.” JE is a viral brain infection, endemic to Asia and parts of the Western Pacific. According to the World Health Organisation, it is a mosquito-borne flavivirus belonging to the same family as dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and West Nile viruses. The virus kills a third of those who fall ill and leaves up to a half of those who survive with severe life-long disabilities, according to the UN health body. Last year, 23 people succumbed to JE, including one in Kathmandu Valley, and over 80 people were infected. This year, 110 local units across all seven provinces have reported JE infections and deaths. Cases have been reported from 22 hill districts this year. Lumbini province reported 11 JE deaths and 52 infections, the highest in the country, followed by Gandaki province with five deaths and 29 infections, and Bagmati province with five deaths and 23 infections. Similarly, Koshi province reported four deaths and 24 infections, Madhesh province three deaths and 16 infections, Sudurpaschim province two deaths and 15 infections, and Karnali province one death and six infections. The number of reported cases could be just the tip of the iceberg, as tests are usually carried out only on hospitalised patients with severe conditions, officials say. This year, transmission was first detected in the eastern part of the country and gradually spread westwards. Seventy-one percent of lab-confirmed JE cases have been detected in those above 15 years of age. Doctors say complications from JE infection could cause permanent injuries to the brain and the nervous system. As there is no specific cure, treatment focuses on managing symptoms. However, safe and effective vaccines have been developed to prevent infection. Health officials said that their attempts to persuade development partners, including the World Health Organisation, to support a mass JE vaccination campaign have not succeeded in the past year. In 2005, JE killed nearly 2,000 people in Nepal—mostly children in Tarai districts. Nepal started administering the vaccine in 2006, eight years before the World Health Organisation officially issued prequalification certification, due to high rates of infection and deaths from the virus at the time. In the first phase, all populations of the highly affected four districts—Banke, Bardiya, Dang, and Kailali—were vaccinated. Later, the programme was expanded to 19 other affected districts, targeting children under 15. The government integrated the JE vaccine into routine immunisation in 2015. Even then, people continue to die, and dozens get infected every year. Public health experts say now is the right time to vaccinate all those at risk. Even if the vaccine cannot stop the ongoing outbreak, it provides immunity against future infections, according to them. The JE virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Culex mosquitoes. Pigs and ducks are considered natural reservoirs of the virus. Doctors advise avoiding mosquito bites, such as by using mosquito repellents, wearing long-sleeved clothes, and getting vaccinated if one lives in or travels to disease-endemic areas. They also stress the importance of awareness and timely treatment to prevent infections and deaths. An estimated 12.5 million people are thought to be at high risk of JE infection in Nepal.

Japanese Encephalitis Outbreak

Nepal Infection Rates

['Japanese Encephalitis' 'Nepal' 'infection rates' 'mosquito-borne virus' 'vaccination campaign']

0.8

Negative

['Japanese encephalitis (JE)' 'dengue' 'Zika' 'yellow fever' 'West Nile viruses']

[]

['Ministry of Health and Population' 'Family Welfare Division' 'Department of Health Services' 'World Health Organisation' 'UN health body']

['Dr Abhiyan Gautam']

['Nepal' 'Asia' 'Western Pacific' 'Kathmandu Valley' 'Lumbini province' 'Gandaki province' 'Bagmati province' 'Koshi province' 'Madhesh province' 'Sudurpaschim province' 'Karnali province' 'Tarai districts' 'Banke' 'Bardiya' 'Dang' 'Kailali']

[]

4,132

5

1

5

16

0

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Neutral', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Positive', 'Department of Health Services': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Negative', 'UN health body': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Abhiyan Gautam': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 0, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.5, 'Department of Health Services': 0, 'World Health Organisation': -0.6, 'UN health body': 0}

{'Dr Abhiyan Gautam': 0.6}

{}

Physical

{'Japanese encephalitis (JE)': 'addressed', 'dengue': 'not addressed', 'Zika': 'not addressed', 'yellow fever': 'not addressed', 'West Nile viruses': 'not addressed'}

['Lumbini province', 'Gandaki province', 'Bagmati province', 'Koshi province', 'Madhesh province', 'Sudurpaschim province', 'Karnali province', 'Kathmandu Valley', 'Banke', 'Bardiya', 'Dang', 'Kailali', 'Tarai districts']

13

{'Banke': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Bardiya': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Dang': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Kailali': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Kathmandu': ['Japanese encephalitis']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/10/01/dengue-cases-remain-low-in-chitwan-this-festive-season

2025-10-01 07:51:00

kathmandu_post

2025-10-12

Dengue cases remain low in Chitwan this festive season

Ramesh Kumar Paudel

2025-10-01

Chitwan

Chitwan, which usually records a sharp rise in dengue cases during the festive season, has seen far fewer infections this year. By Sunday, only 81 people had been diagnosed with dengue in the district since mid-July. In comparison, by the same date last year, 1,237 cases had already been confirmed, and the total number of infections rose to 2,872 by December, with one death reported. Health experts say that while the infection rate appears subdued so far, the months of October and November remain critical. “This year, dengue transmission is very slow. Looking at the current numbers, it may not take a severe form. But October and November are always risky, so we must remain alert,” said Dinesh Rupakheti, chief of the Bharatpur Public Health Office. Dengue infections in Chitwan have followed a pattern of severe outbreaks every three years, notably in 2016, 2019, and 2022. After 2022, cases were reported annually, but this year’s figures remain significantly lower. “Until 2022, the outbreak was severe every three years, but later it became a yearly pattern. This year, the numbers have dropped sharply,” Rupakheti said. Officials attribute the lower caseload partly to public awareness and community-level prevention campaigns. The Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which transmit dengue, breed in stagnant clean water found in containers such as buckets, flowerpots, discarded tyres, bottles, and tanks. “The best way to prevent dengue is to stop mosquito breeding and avoid mosquito bites. Even small amounts of water collected in bottles, drums, or pots can serve as breeding grounds,” Rupakheti said. According to health officials, Aedes mosquitoes are most active during the day—two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset. Infected mosquito bites typically cause sudden fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and body aches. Officials have warned against self-medicating and delaying hospital visits. “In many cases, complications arise when people avoid health facilities or take medicines without consultation. That has even led to fatalities in the past,” said Ram KC, vector control inspector at the Bharatpur Public Health Office. He added that community-led sanitation drives are underway in neighbourhoods to eliminate larvae and stagnant water. “We must remain active through October and November because that’s when dengue risk is highest.” Nepal confirmed its first dengue case in Chitwan in 2004 in a foreign national. Since then, the disease has spread across the country, often spiking during the monsoon and post-monsoon months. This year, health authorities say, the disease has not reached high levels nationwide. “If sanitation is improved and people protect themselves from mosquito bites, the infection will remain under control,” Rupakheti said.

Dengue Infections

Lower Cases in Chitwan

['dengue cases' 'Chitwan' 'health experts' 'Aedes mosquitoes' 'public awareness' 'prevention campaigns']

0.6

Positive

['dengue']

['Bharatpur Public Health Office']

[]

['Dinesh Rupakheti' 'Ram KC']

['Chitwan' 'Nepal']

[]

2,823

1

2

0

2

0

1

{}

{'Dinesh Rupakheti': 'Positive', 'Ram KC': 'Positive'}

{'General': 'Neutral'}

{'Bharatpur Public Health Office': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Dinesh Rupakheti': 0.7, 'Ram KC': 0.7}

{'General': 0.0}

{'Bharatpur Public Health Office': 0.7}

Physical

{'dengue': 'not addressed'}

['Chitwan', 'Nepal', 'Bharatpur']

3

{'Chitwan': ['dengue']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/30/nepal-reports-a-dozen-indigenous-malaria-cases-since-january

2025-09-30 06:22:00

kathmandu_post

2025-10-12

Nepal reports a dozen indigenous malaria cases since January

Arjun Poudel

2025-09-30

Kathmandu

Around a dozen cases of indigenous malaria infection have been reported since January, this year, which is a serious setback in the country’s efforts to achieve its malaria elimination goal. According to officials at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, they have been verifying reported cases and taking measures to prevent further spillover of the infection. “Around a dozen cases of indigenous malaria cases have been reported so far,” said Dr Gokarna Dahal, chief of the Vector Control Section at the division. “We have been verifying these cases. Alongside them, imported malaria cases have also been reported.” Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are carried by infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, according to the World Health Organisation. Indigenous malaria cases are locally transmitted, and infected persons do not have a history of travel to malaria-affected countries. Meanwhile, imported cases occur in people who have travelled to disease-hit areas or countries. Nepal has missed its malaria elimination target multiple times—in 2020, 2023, and effectively in 2026. The country had committed to achieving ‘malaria-free’ status in 2026, which requires reducing indigenous cases or local transmission of the disease to zero, achieving zero deaths from 2023, and sustaining zero cases for three consecutive years, according to the World Health Organisation. However, both indigenous and imported malaria infections rose in 2023 and 2024, making it impossible to meet the 2026 target.. According to data provided by the division, 1,043 new malaria cases—including 1,006 imported and 37 indigenous—were reported in 2024, up from 528 cases, including 23 indigenous, in 2023. Health officials say that the malaria elimination target has been postponed to 2030. Public health experts and entomologists said that they are sceptical about Nepal’s ability to eliminate the disease even in the next five years, as the country is witnessing all existing and emerging new challenges. Open borders, global travel, and mosquitoes moving to higher altitudes due to climate change all pose challenges to the elimination goal, they said. “We cannot let our guard down, despite multiple challenges, including existing and emerging ones,” said Sishir Panta, an entomologist. “We must make our surveillance measures robust, strengthen health facilities, impart training to health workers and prevent the spread from imported cases.” Experts say multiple factors hinder Nepal’s effort to achieve malaria elimination target—open and porous border with India, from which thousands of people enter every day. Malaria remains one of major public health problems in India. It is estimated that India carries 1.4 percent of global malaria burden and 0.9 percent of global malaria deaths. “Thousands of Nepali people go to India for work and return home during the festive season. “Imported malaria cases of malaria could rise after Dashain and Tihar festivals [in October],” said Panta. “Testing should be carried out at entry points and in communities.” Of the total imported cases, over 80 percent have come from India. Experts say elimination in Nepal is unlikely until malaria is controlled in India. Some cases were imported from African countries. Nepali security personnel serving in UN peacekeeping missions in conflict-hit African countries have also tested positive for malaria. “It is not easy to eliminate the deadly disease without curbing imported cases,” said Panta. Officials at the health ministry said that until recent years, Plasmodium Vivax, a protozoan parasite, was responsible for most of the malaria cases in the country, which is relatively less severe. However, cases of Plasmodium falciparum, which most often causes severe and life-threatening malaria, have been rising. The parasite is common in many countries in Africa and the Sahara desert. Several other factors, including cuts in the health budget from government and aid agencies, and shifts in vectors transmitting malaria to the hills and mountains due to global warming also pose serious challenges to meeting the elimination target. Apart from this, most health facilities in Nepal lack entomologists, who play a crucial role in surveillance. Unlike in the past, when malaria was concentrated in Tarai districts, a large number of cases are now being reported from hill and mountain districts such as Mugu, Bajura, and Humla, which were considered non-endemic in the past. Apart from this, isolated indigenous cases of malaria have emerged as a major challenge. Officials admit that single indigenous cases of infection have been reported from several places, and tracing the source of infection is difficult.

Malaria Elimination

Nepal's Efforts and Challenges

['Malaria' 'Nepal' 'Indigenous Cases' 'Imported Cases' 'Malaria Elimination Goal' 'Public Health' 'Climate Change']

0.6

Negative

['malaria']

[]

['World Health Organisation' 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division' 'UN']

['Dr Gokarna Dahal' 'Sishir Panta']

['Nepal' 'India' 'Africa' 'Sahara desert' 'Mugu' 'Bajura' 'Humla' 'Tarai']

[]

['malaria elimination goal' 'malaria elimination target']

4,710

1

2

3

8

2

0

{'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 'Neutral', 'UN': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Gokarna Dahal': 'Neutral', 'Sishir Panta': 'Positive'}

{'malaria elimination goal': 'Negative', 'malaria elimination target': 'Negative'}

{'NoHospitalProvided': 'Neutral'}

{'World Health Organisation': 0.0, 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 0.0, 'UN': 0.0}

{'Dr Gokarna Dahal': 0.0, 'Sishir Panta': 0.6}

{'malaria elimination goal': -0.85, 'malaria elimination target': -0.85}

{'NoHospitalProvided': 0}

Physical

{'malaria': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal', 'India', 'Africa', 'Sahara desert', 'Tarai districts', 'Mugu', 'Bajura', 'Humla']

8

{'Bajura': ['malaria'], 'Humla': ['malaria'], 'Mugu': ['malaria']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/09/26/57-percent-mbbs-and-81-percent-bds-doctors-fail-licensing-test

2025-09-26 16:38:00

kathmandu_post

2025-10-12

57 percent MBBS and 81 percent BDS doctors fail licensing test

Post Report

2025-09-26

Kathmandu

Only 39 percent of medical doctors—MBBS and BDS graduates—have cleared the licensing test of the Nepal Medical Council. This has raised concerns about the academic standards of future doctors. Of 1,077 doctors—894 MBBS graduates and 183 BDS graduates—who sat the exam, only 421 secured pass marks in licensing tests held on Wednesday and Thursday. The council, the national regulatory body for medical doctors and dentists, does not allow doctors to practice medicine without clearing its licensing test. “Those who could not secure a pass mark cannot examine patients or prescribe medicines,” said Dr Satish Kumar Deo, the council’s registrar. “They have to sit another licensing test and clear it to get the license.” The council conducts the licensing test every four months for graduate and postgraduate medical students. Of the 894 MBBS (Bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery) graduates, who sat in the council’s test, 389 (43 percent) cleared the exam. While a total of 183 BDS graduates sat the test, only only 35 (19 percent) qualified to start practice. Officials say it is not unusual for a large number of medical graduates to fail the licensing test, but the failure rate among dental graduates this time is alarming. “I have to check if such a huge number of students failed to secure pass marks in the past or not,” said Deo. “The number of students who failed repeatedly in previous tests could be higher this time, hence the higher failure numbers.” To qualify as a medical practitioner, a doctor must score at least 50 percent in the licensing exam. Experts say the quality of medical education is being compromised because underachievers who should not be practising medicine continue to enter the profession. They say that universities and colleges must pay closer attention to the performance of the doctors they produce. An official at the council said that in the two previous tests, the pass percentages of doctors were unusually high, and a complaint was lodged about it. “I don’t know what is the real cause, but everything should be seen in a chart or trend,” an official at the council said, asking not to be named, as he is not authorised to speak to the media. “If the number of students repeatedly failing the licensing test is high, then the failure rate will naturally be high.” Licensing tests for medical doctors are a routine procedure in every country. Nepal’s licensing test focuses only on doctors’ knowledge. Some countries also conduct skill tests. Council officials said they had also planned to conduct skill tests in the past, but could not do so due to the lack of skill labs. Currently, only the National Academy of Medical Sciences, Tribhuvan University’s Institute of Medicine, and Kathmandu University’s Dhulikhel Hospital have skill labs. The council had previously planned to set up skill labs with support from various agencies, including the World Health Organisation, but the plan did not materialise. The World Health Organisation said inaccurate diagnosis, medical errors, inappropriate or unnecessary treatment, inadequate or unsafe clinical facilities and practices, and healthcare providers who lack adequate training and expertise are present in all countries. The UN health body says low-quality health care is increasing the burden of illness and health costs globally.

Medical Licensing Exam

Failure Rate of Medical Graduates

['Nepal Medical Council' 'licensing test' 'medical education' 'doctor shortages' 'healthcare quality']

0.6

Negative

[]

['Dhulikhel Hospital']

['Nepal Medical Council' 'National Academy of Medical Sciences' 'Tribhuvan University' 'Kathmandu University' 'World Health Organisation']

['Dr Satish Kumar Deo']

['Nepal']

[]

3,339

0

1

5

1

0

1

{'Nepal Medical Council': 'Negative', 'National Academy of Medical Sciences': 'Neutral', 'Tribhuvan University': 'Neutral', 'Kathmandu University': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Satish Kumar Deo': 'Neutral'}

{}

{'Dhulikhel Hospital': 'Positive'}

{'Nepal Medical Council': -0.4, 'National Academy of Medical Sciences': 0.0, 'Tribhuvan University': 0.0, 'Kathmandu University': 0.0, 'World Health Organisation': 0.0}

{'Dr Satish Kumar Deo': 0.0}

{}

{'Dhulikhel Hospital': 0.7}

Physical

{}

['Nepal', 'Tribhuvan University', 'Kathmandu University']

3

{ "locations": {} }

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/18/nepal-to-vaccinate-all-10-year-old-girls-against-hpv-in-february-march

2025-11-19 07:28:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

Nepal to vaccinate all 10-year-old girls against HPV early next year

Post Report

2025-11-18

Kathmandu

All girls aged 10 years of age or those studying in class six will be administered the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in Falgun (mid-February to mid-March) under the routine immunisation schedule. Although the HPV vaccine has been included in the routine immunisation list, officials say that the vaccine will be administered in the month of Falgun every year. “We have estimated that around 350,000 girls are 10 years old,” said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “Health workers will administer the vaccine to those studying in class six in the schools, and others who are 10 years of age and don’t go to schools will also be administered the vaccine from health facilities.” Human papillomavirus is a viral infection that spreads through skin-to-skin contact and is a leading cause of cervical cancer—the second-most common cancer in the developing world. Cervical cancer is a major cause of death among Nepali women, with hundreds diagnosed every year. Although the exact number of patients suffering from cervical cancer in Nepal is not known, it is estimated that every day, at least four women die of the disease. BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Bharatpur said that more than 700 women suffering from cervical cancer seek treatment at the hospital every year. A cervical cancer screening carried out by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City in July this year found 126 women in the city infected with human papilloma virus. Of 2,564 samples tested during the screening, 28 women were found infected with HPV types 16 and 18, which are responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancer. The remaining 98 tested positive for other types of HPV. The testing was carried out in the laboratory of the Bir Hospital and only HPV types 16 and 18 were tested as officials said that neither the city office nor the Bir Hospital had testing kits of other HPV types. Doctors say HPV exists in more than 100 different forms, ranging from low-risk to high-risk infections. HPV types 16 and 18 are frequently associated with invasive cervical cancer compared to other types, meaning that they are more carcinogenic than other types. They say most cases of cervical cancer are associated with HPV. Widespread immunisation could significantly reduce the impact of cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers. Early treatment can prevent up to 80 percent of cervical cancer cases, according to them. The Ministry of Health and Population launched a nationwide HPV drive in February-March this year in which around 1.5 million girls between 11 and 14 were inoculated with a single dose of HPV vaccine. Experts say the HPV vaccine is effective if it is administered before getting sexually active. Efficacy rate on adult women or after getting sexually active is low. The Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI) has supplied required vaccine doses for the campaign. Officials say that the alliance has committed to supply vaccine doses for routine immunisation programmes also. The World Health organisation says HPV vaccination is recommended as part of a coordinated strategy to prevent cervical cancer and other diseases caused by the virus. According to the UN health body, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and claims over 350,000 lives each year.

HPV Vaccination

Cervical Cancer Prevention

['HPV Vaccine', 'Cervical Cancer', 'Immunisation', 'Nepal', "Women's Health"]

0.6

Positive

['human papillomavirus (HPV)', 'cervical cancer']

['BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital', 'Bir Hospital']

['Department of Health Services', 'Family Welfare Division', 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City', 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI)', 'World Health Organisation', 'Ministry of Health and Population']

['Dr Abhiyan Gautam']

['Nepal', 'Bharatpur', 'Kathmandu']

['HPV vaccine']

['routine immunisation schedule', 'nationwide HPV drive']

3,379

2

1

6

3

2

1

2

{'Department of Health Services': 'Positive', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Positive', 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 'Positive', 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI)': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Abhiyan Gautam': 'Neutral'}

{'routine immunisation schedule': 'Positive', 'nationwide HPV drive': 'Positive'}

null

{'Department of Health Services': 0.8, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.8, 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 0.7, 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI)': 0.9, 'World Health Organisation': 0.9, 'Ministry of Health and Population': 0.8}

{'Dr Abhiyan Gautam': 0}

{'routine immunisation schedule': 0.8, 'nationwide HPV drive': 0.9}

null

Physical

{'human papillomavirus (HPV)': 'addressed', 'cervical cancer': 'addressed'}

['Falgun', 'Nepal', 'Bharatpur', 'Kathmandu', 'Bir Hospital', 'Ministry of Health and Population', 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation', 'World Health Organisation']

8

{'Chitwan': ['cervical cancer'], 'Kathmandu': ['human papillomavirus infection', 'cervical cancer']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/17/kmc-starts-free-pneumonia-shots-for-over-75s-with-health-issues

2025-11-18 08:06:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

KMC offers free pneumonia vaccine to over 75s with underlying health issues

Post Report

2025-11-17

Kathmandu

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has started administering the pneumonia vaccine to elderly residents with underlying conditions, who face heightened risk of lung infection in winter. Officials at the Health Department under the city office said that 1,900 people have already been inoculated and an additional 3,500 will be administered with the vaccine in the coming days. “We have been administering pneumonia vaccines to elderly people above 75 years of age,” said Deepak Kumar KC, chief of the department. “Those above 75 with underlying conditions like cancer, and renal disease, among others, are highly vulnerable to severe pneumonia during the winter season.” Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs caused by various types of bacteria, viruses and fungi, is the leading cause of morbidity in Nepal from which thousands of people from across the country get affected. It is also the number one killer of children under five in the country. It kills more children annually than malaria, tuberculosis and HIV combined. Viruses that cause influenza are highly contagious, which spread quickly in communities and affect the lungs of those who are infected. These diseases can cause fever, cough, body aches, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as pneumonia. If left untreated, they can lead to death. Pneumonia caused by bacteria is even deadlier than that caused by viruses, and children under five and people above 65 years of age are highly vulnerable to the disease, experts say. Officials at the city office say that elderly people, who generally have multiple comorbidities, are highly vulnerable to complications if they suffer from pneumonia. They say many elderly people do not seek pneumonia shots on their own, as the vaccine is costly, and many families don’t think it necessary to purchase vaccines for their vulnerable parents, even if they can afford to do so. “We have been providing Pfizer’s pneumonia vaccine to elderly people, which cost over Rs5000, and the budget for the vaccine is our own [KMC’s],” said KC. Officials say the vaccine is being administered only to residents of the city. Of late, major hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley have reported a surge in influenza cases. Doctors say administering vulnerable populations with pneumonia and updated influenza shots at the time of season change reduces the risk of severe illness and death. They say that multiple respiratory viruses that cause seasonal influenza—A(H1N1), A(H3), influenza B, rhinovirus, and adenovirus—become active during season change and winter and infect thousands of people. Seasonal influenza is also highly contagious. It mainly affects the lungs and quickly spreads in communities. If seasonal influenza is left untreated, it can cause pneumonia, which can be fatal, according to experts. “Decision to administer pneumonia vaccine to elderly population is a very positive one,” said Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, chief of Clinical Research Unit at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital. “Other local governments should follow KMC’s move and administer vulnerable populations with pneumonia vaccines.” Doctors say family members of elderly people should buy influenza and pneumonia vaccines for their parents, as this reduces the risk of severe illness from viral and bacterial infections that can lead to pneumonia. They say elderly people and those with underlying health conditions—heart disease, renal problems, cancer, and diabetes, among others—are particularly vulnerable. The government has included pneumonia vaccine in its routine immunisation list of children and provides it free of cost from state-run health facilities. But elderly people and others have to purchase it (which costs over Rs5,000) themselves if they need to be vaccinated. Public health measures—mask-wearing, handwashing, avoiding crowds, and maintaining social distancing—can reduce infection, doctors say.

Pneumonia Vaccine Administration

Kathmandu Metropolitan City's Initiative for Elderly Residents

['pneumonia vaccine', 'elderly residents', 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City', 'influenza', 'seasonal influenza', 'public health measures']

0.8

Positive

['pneumonia', 'cancer', 'renal disease', 'influenza', 'malaria', 'tuberculosis', 'HIV', 'heart disease', 'diabetes']

['Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital']

['Kathmandu Metropolitan City', 'Pfizer']

['Deepak Kumar KC', 'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun']

['Kathmandu', 'Nepal', 'Kathmandu Valley']

['pneumonia vaccine', 'influenza vaccine']

['routine immunisation list']

3,915

9

2

3

1

2

1

{'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 'Positive', 'Pfizer': 'Neutral'}

{'Deepak Kumar KC': 'Positive', 'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun': 'Positive'}

{'routine immunisation list': 'Positive'}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 'Positive'}

{'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 0.8, 'Pfizer': 0}

{'Deepak Kumar KC': 0.9, 'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun': 0.9}

{'routine immunisation list': 1.0}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 0.75}

pneumonia

{'pneumonia': 'addressed', 'cancer': 'addressed', 'renal disease': 'addressed', 'influenza': 'addressed', 'malaria': 'not addressed', 'tuberculosis': 'not addressed', 'HIV': 'not addressed', 'heart disease': 'addressed', 'diabetes': 'addressed'}

['Kathmandu', 'Nepal', 'Kathmandu Valley']

3

{'Kathmandu': ['Pneumonia', 'Influenza', 'Cancer', 'Renal disease', 'Heart disease', 'Diabetes', 'Tuberculosis', 'Malaria', 'HIV']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/16/authorities-mull-ring-vaccination-in-cholera-hit-areas-of-saptari

2025-11-16 19:19:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

Authorities mull ring vaccination in cholera-hit areas of Saptari

Post Report

2025-11-16

Saptari

Health authorities are considering ring vaccination in the cholera-hit ward 5 of Chhinnamasta Rural Municipality and surrounding areas in Saptari district after a month-long outbreak killed three people and infected 98 others. Though a final decision on vaccination has not yet been taken, officials say infections have not stopped completely and the potentially deadly disease has spread to new areas instead. “People are still getting infected with diarrheal ailments in the cholera hit areas,” said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “Although no decision has been taken to vaccinate the vulnerable population in the disease-hit areas, it seems that without vaccination it will be difficult to contain the outbreak.” Two children and an elderly man died from the cholera outbreak nearly a month ago. Officials in the disease-hit rural municipality said 13 diarrhoeal patients tested positive for cholera in rapid diagnostic tests carried out in the village, and laboratory tests of stool samples from five patients confirmed Vibrio cholerae 01 Ogawa serotype. Three new diarrheal patients were hospitalised on Saturday. “People are still falling ill even after weeks of efforts to containment efforts,” Bidyananda Chaudhary, chairman of the rural municipality, told the Post over the phone from Saptari. “The disease has now spread to another Dalit settlement.” Chaudhary said he visited Kathmandu and submitted a memorandum to the Minister for Health and Population Sudha Gautam requesting federal support to contain the outbreak. “Doctors as well as experts we consulted have said that without vaccination, it will be difficult to contain the spread.” Officials said that water and sanitation conditions in the affected Dalit settlements of Musahar and Paswan suffer from extremely poor water and sanitation conditions, and added that changing hygiene practices in the area cannot happen overnight. Cholera is a highly infectious disease that causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and death within a few hours if left untreated. In Bara and Parsa districts, at least four people have died of cholera and over 1,800 others have been hospitalised since the first week of August. Authorities resorted to anti-cholera vaccination after all their efforts failed to control the spread of infection. Over one million people from Parsa and some areas of Bara were administered the anti-cholera vaccine. Officials said everyone above one year of age in all municipalities of Parsa district and six adjoining municipalities in Bara district—the areas hardest hit by the outbreak—were administered the oral cholera vaccine immediately after the Dashai holidays last month. Public health experts say the Birgunj outbreak is the largest since the Jajarkot epidemic in 2009. They say the Birgunj outbreak exposes critical gaps in the government’s preparedness and response system, and water and sanitation conditions. Nepal often witnesses outbreaks of water- and food-borne diseases, including cholera, during the monsoon season as floodwaters contaminate most of the drinking water sources. Last year, at least 95 cholera cases were confirmed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Jajarkot, Pyuthan, Makawanpur, Rolpa, Sindhupalchok, Achham, and Rautahat districts. The health ministry previously administered cholera vaccine to people from the affected areas of Kapilvastu, Rautahat, and Kathmandu a few years ago to halt the spread. Poor sanitation and hygiene make the country highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, and cholera, especially in the monsoon season, according to doctors. They say the risk of waterborne diseases will not decrease until the water and sanitation conditions improve, and people get safe drinking water. Several other factors, including storage conditions, supply pipes, and pollution of water sources, also determine the quality of water supplied to households. The World Health Organisation says cholera is a global threat to public health, and a multifaceted approach is the key to controlling the disease and reducing deaths.

Cholera Outbreak

Nepal Health Crisis

['Cholera', 'Vaccination', 'Nepal', 'Outbreak', 'Waterborne Diseases', 'Sanitation', 'Hygiene']

-0.8

Negative

['cholera', 'diarrhea', 'dysentery', 'typhoid', 'hepatitis']

[]

['Department of Health Services', 'Family Welfare Division', 'World Health Organisation']

['Dr Abhiyan Gautam', 'Bidyananda Chaudhary', 'Sudha Gautam']

['Saptari district', 'Chhinnamasta Rural Municipality', 'Kathmandu', 'Lalitpur', 'Jajarkot', 'Pyuthan', 'Makawanpur', 'Rolpa', 'Sindhupalchok', 'Achham', 'Rautahat', 'Bara', 'Parsa', 'Nepal', 'Birgunj', 'Musahar', 'Paswan', 'Kapilvastu']

['anti-cholera vaccine', 'oral cholera vaccine']

[]

4,212

5

3

18

0

2

0

{'Department of Health Services': 'Neutral', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive'}

null

{'Birgunj': 'Neutral', 'Kathmandu': 'Neutral', 'Saptari': 'Negative'}

{'Department of Health Services': 0, 'Family Welfare Division': 0, 'World Health Organisation': 0.8}

null

{'Birgunj': 0, 'Kathmandu': 0, 'Saptari': -0.75}

cholera

null

['Chhinnamasta Rural Municipality', 'Saptari district', 'Kathmandu', 'Bara district', 'Parsa district', 'Birgunj', 'Jajarkot', 'Kapilvastu', 'Rautahat', 'Lalitpur', 'Pyuthan', 'Makawanpur', 'Rolpa', 'Sindhupalchok', 'Achham']

15

{'Achham': ['cholera'], 'Bara': ['cholera'], 'Jajarkot': ['cholera'], 'Kapilvastu': ['cholera'], 'Kathmandu': ['cholera', 'diarrhoea', 'dysentery', 'typhoid', 'hepatitis'], 'Lalitpur': ['cholera'], 'Makawanpur': ['cholera'], 'Parsa': ['cholera'], 'Pyuthan': ['cholera'], 'Rautahat': ['cholera'], 'Rolpa': ['cholera'], 'Saptari': ['cholera', 'diarrheal ailments'], 'Sindhupalchok': ['cholera']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/14/22-percent-of-kathmanduites-over-30-are-diabetic

2025-11-14 19:42:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

22 percent of Kathmanduites over 30 are diabetic

Post Report

2025-11-14

Kathmandu

As many as 22 percent of Kathmandu residents over 30 have high blood sugar, according to a preliminary report of a random blood sugar test carried out by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City around a year ago. The figure is almost three times the estimated national average of eight percent, which doctors and public health experts say is alarming. Of 19,660 people tested during the study, five percent were newly diagnosed with diabetes, while 14.5 percent said that they already had the disease. Officials also said another 2.4 percent of the population were found not taking medication despite knowing that they have high blood sugar levels. “Though we don’t have data on population-level studies on diabetes, it is clear that the problem has been rising alarmingly in recent years,” said Dr Jyoti Bhattarai, senior endocrinologist. “The rise is seen across all age groups, but what concerns me most is that young people are increasingly affected, and many of whom are not even aware of it.” Diabetes is a non-communicable disease, which develops when blood sugar levels are too high. It occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body does not respond properly to insulin. The World Health Organisation says diabetes can impact people across all life stages, including childhood, the reproductive years, working age and older adulthood. Health officials say that preliminary findings of health screening of the general population above 30 by the city office are alarming. They say health screening was conducted on 26,019 people in December 2024 and January 2025 at 256 locations in the metropolis, including 32 urban health promotion centres. Tests were carried out to check blood pressure levels, diabetes, behavioural risk factors—smoking and alcohol intake—and renal function. “Due to various reasons, we have not yet analysed all the data,” said Dr Dibas Neupane, an official at the Health Department under the city office. “But the preliminary results show alarming rates of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases among Kathmandu residents.” Along with the rise in type-1 and type-2 diabetes in general population experts say problems of new kind of diabetes, which they called mid-point diabetes, have also emerged of late as serious public health concern. Type-1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, in which the body's immune system destroys insulin producing cells in the pancreas. In this condition the body does not make insulin or produces insufficient insulin. Type-2 diabetes is common type diabetes, where the body becomes resistant to insulin or pancreas doesn't make enough insulin. Type-5 diabetes or mid-point diabetes is a recently identified condition related to chronic undernutrition. Doctors say patients appear lean and thin but suffer from insulin deficiency. Doctors say people of all ages could be affected by diabetes. It increases the risk of damage to kidneys, nerves, heart and eyes. Changes in dietary patterns such as increased consumption of processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, and rising stress levels are among the main causes. “Most patients seek treatment when complications arise, which is often too late,” said Dr Dipak Malla, senior endocrinologist at Bir Hospital. “Many people think that problems like diabetes start only in the older age, but the number of young people suffering from diabetes has been rising in recent years.” Lack of physical inactivity, and increasing obesity in children and young people are also contributing to diabetes. “Anyone could develop non-communicable diseases and diabetes. Those who consume processed foods in excess, do not exercise, and are obese are at high risk,” said Malla. “Such people must change their eating habits and start physical exercise. If problems are identified early, complications can be prevented.” Experts recommend launching awareness drives against non-communicable diseases, sedentary lifestyle and eating habits. Non-communicable diseases—hypertension, diabetes, renal disease, liver problems, heart problems, and cervical cancer, among others—have emerged as major killers in recent years, accounting for 73 percent of total deaths worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study conducted by the US-based Institution for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Diabetes

Prevalence in Kathmandu

['Kathmandu', 'Diabetes', 'High Blood Sugar', 'Non-Communicable Diseases', 'Public Health']

-0.8

Negative

['diabetes', 'type-1 diabetes', 'type-2 diabetes', 'type-5 diabetes', 'mid-point diabetes', 'hypertension', 'renal disease', 'liver problems', 'heart problems', 'cervical cancer', 'high blood sugar']

['Bir Hospital']

['Kathmandu Metropolitan City', 'World Health Organisation', 'Institution for Health Metrics and Evaluation']

['Dr Jyoti Bhattarai', 'Dr Dibas Neupane', 'Dr Dipak Malla']

['Kathmandu']

[]

4,319

11

3

1

0

1

{'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 'Negative', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'Institution for Health Metrics and Evaluation': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Jyoti Bhattarai': 'Positive', 'Dr Dibas Neupane': 'Neutral', 'Dr Dipak Malla': 'Positive'}

{'Health Screening': 'Positive', 'Awareness Drives': 'Positive', 'Dietary Changes': 'Positive', 'Increased Physical Activity': 'Positive'}

{'Bir Hospital': 'Positive'}

{'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': -0.8, 'World Health Organisation': 0, 'Institution for Health Metrics and Evaluation': 0}

{'Dr Jyoti Bhattarai': 0.7, 'Dr Dibas Neupane': 0, 'Dr Dipak Malla': 0.8}

{'Health Screening': 1.0, 'Awareness Drives': 1.0, 'Dietary Changes': 1.0, 'Increased Physical Activity': 1.0}

{'Bir Hospital': 0.75}

diabetes

{'diabetes': 'addressed', 'type-1 diabetes': 'addressed', 'type-2 diabetes': 'addressed', 'type-5 diabetes': 'addressed', 'mid-point diabetes': 'addressed', 'high blood sugar': 'addressed', 'hypertension': 'addressed', 'renal disease': 'addressed', 'liver problems': 'not addressed', 'heart problems': 'addressed', 'cervical cancer': 'not addressed'}

['Kathmandu', 'Bir Hospital']

2

{'Kathmandu': ['diabetes', 'high blood sugar', 'hypertension', 'renal disease', 'heart problems', 'cervical cancer']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/13/time-to-rethink-blanket-vitamin-and-nutritional-campaigns-experts-say

2025-11-13 18:36:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

Time to rethink blanket vitamin and nutritional campaigns, experts say

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-13

Kathmandu

The Micronutrient Survey carried out in 2016 had shown moderate levels of vitamin A deficiency in Nepal. It has been almost a decade since the government started nationwide vitamin A supplementation drives twice a year. Had the planned micronutrient survey not been suspended indefinitely, Nepal would not have needed to launch a nationwide high-dose vitamin A campaign, which costs over Rs100 million every year. Officials say the World Health Organisation also does not recommend a high-dose vitamin A campaign if two consecutive nationwide micronutrient surveys show only moderate levels of deficiency. “The UN health body recommends prioritising and strengthening routine programmes and targeted responses in high-risk areas and groups if problems were found to be moderate in two studies,” said Lila Bikram Thapa, chief of Nutrition Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “We have to continue the high-dose vitamin A supplementation programme, as we are unaware of the latest vitamin A deficiency situation in our population.” Along with the vitamin A supplementation programme, several other health initiatives—including high-dose iodine fortification of salt, and supplementation with iron, acid and zinc, and other nutrition programmes—have been continuing for decades. Health officials say that due to the lack of latest and credible data from independent institutions, the government is compelled to continue those programmes without knowing the current magnitude of the public health problems they are meant to address. “The micronutrition study survey, which was planned for April-May, has been suspended indefinitely due to a suspension of the budget by the USAID,” said Thapa. “All necessary preparations—including selection of an independent agency for study, ethical approval from the concerned agencies, and training for enumerators—had been completed, but the study could not happen due to the budget freeze.” Health experts say that many health issues may no longer require nationwide or blanket programmes, as such approaches cost huge amounts of money and can even have negative effects on public health. The fortification of salt with iodine beyond WHO recommendations is one such programme that experts say needs reassessment. Nepalis have been using salt with 50ppm (parts per million) of iodine per kilo, which is higher than the recommended level. The UN health body recommends iodine concentration in salt between 15 and 40 ppm per kilo. The higher iodine level was mandated in the 1990s under the assumption that transport and storage times were longer, as salt had to be carried on the backs of men and animals, and some iodine would dissipate before reaching the market. However, with roads now reaching almost all corners of the country, transport times have reduced considerably, and there is no longer a need for such a high level of iodine in salt, according to doctors. Several studies—including the 2016 Nepal National Micronutrient Status Survey jointly carried out by the WHO, UNICEF, the US-based Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Ministry of Health and Population—have found that over two thirds—68 percent—of the population across Nepal consumes iodine in excess of the recommended level. Doctors suspect use of excessive levels of iodine in salt could be among the reasons for the rise in several non-communicable diseases including hypertension and hypothyroidism, renal problems and others. The Global Burden of Disease 2021 showed that non-communicable diseases are responsible for 73 percent of total deaths, and the ratio could be even higher now, experts say. “We had planned to decide whether to lower iodine content in salt after reviewing new findings from the micronutrient survey,” said Thapa. “Without strong evidence, a new decision that affects the entire population cannot be taken.” Public health experts say they doubt if several ongoing healthcare programmes—including the nationwide vitamin campaigns twice a year, high levels of iodine fortification in salt, and iron-folic acid supplementation for all—are still necessary. “Due to improved dietary habits, increase in family income, not all children may need vitamin A supplementation,” said Dr Yasho Vardan Pradhan, former director general at the Department of Health Services. “It has been years since goiter problems vanished from the country. So, we may no longer need such high doses of iodine fortification.” An indefinite halt in health surveys and data collection has left the country in the dark about updated health indicators and has hindered efforts to track progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets, experts warn. SDGs, a follow-up on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), aim to end poverty and hunger and all forms of inequality in the world by 2030, and Nepal has committed to meeting the goals. They say time has come to start a serious discussion about the need and effectiveness of several ongoing health programmes. They also warn that continuing such programmes without assessment and review does not yield desired results and only wastes resources and time. “A huge budget is required to carry out large-scale studies by independent and credible agencies,” said Thapa. “We neither have our own budget for such a study nor have we found any agency willing to fund it.”

Public Health

Nutrition and Micronutrient Surveys

['Vitamin A deficiency', 'Micronutrient surveys', 'Iodine fortification', 'Health initiatives', 'Nutrition programmes', 'Sustainable Development Goals']

0.6

Negative

['vitamin A deficiency', 'hypertension', 'hypothyroidism', 'renal problems', 'non-communicable diseases', 'goiter']

[]

['World Health Organisation', 'UNICEF', 'US-based Centres for Disease Control and Prevention', 'Ministry of Health and Population', 'USAID', 'Department of Health Services', 'Family Welfare Division']

['Lila Bikram Thapa', 'Yasho Vardan Pradhan']

['Nepal']

['vitamin A', 'iodine', 'iron', 'acid', 'zinc', 'iron-folic acid']

['Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)', 'Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)']

5,387

6

2

7

1

2

6

0

{'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'UNICEF': 'Neutral', 'US-based Centres for Disease Control and Prevention': 'Neutral', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Neutral', 'USAID': 'Negative', 'Department of Health Services': 'Neutral', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Neutral'}

{'Lila Bikram Thapa': 'Neutral', 'Yasho Vardan Pradhan': 'Positive'}

null

{'Teaching Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Norvic Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Nobel Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Grande Hospital': 'Neutral', 'KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital': 'Neutral', 'B & B Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences and Teaching Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Nobel College of Nursing and Teaching Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Bir Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Bir Hospital College and Teaching Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Manipal Teaching Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Manipal Teaching Hospital College': 'Neutral', 'National Medical College Teaching Hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'World Health Organisation': 0, 'UNICEF': 0, 'US-based Centres for Disease Control and Prevention': 0, 'Ministry of Health and Population': 0, 'USAID': -1, 'Department of Health Services': 0, 'Family Welfare Division': 0}

{'Lila Bikram Thapa': 0, 'Yasho Vardan Pradhan': 1}

null

{'Teaching Hospital': 0, 'Norvic Hospital': 0, 'Nobel Hospital': 0, 'Grande Hospital': 0, 'KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital': 0, 'B & B Hospital': 0, 'Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences and Teaching Hospital': 0, 'Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital': 0, 'Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital': 0, 'Nobel College of Nursing and Teaching Hospital': 0, 'Bir Hospital': 0, 'Bir Hospital College and Teaching Hospital': 0, 'Manipal Teaching Hospital': 0, 'Manipal Teaching Hospital College': 0, 'National Medical College Teaching Hospital': 0}

physical

{'vitamin A deficiency': 'addressed', 'hypertension': 'to be addressed', 'hypothyroidism': 'to be addressed', 'renal problems': 'to be addressed', 'non-communicable diseases': 'to be addressed', 'goiter': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal']

1

{ "location_by_disease": {} }

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/13/minimum-service-standard-of-health-facilities-to-be-assessed

2025-11-13 07:24:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

Minimum service standard of health facilities to be assessed

Post Report

2025-11-13

Kathmandu

In a bid to improve the quality of healthcare services being provided to the patients, the Ministry of Health and Population has been preparing to assess minimum service standards of the state-run health facilities. For that, a two-day training has been imparted to 36 health officials including doctors of six provinces except officials from Madhesh Province. “Services being provided by health facilities need to be assessed on a regular basis to find the gap,” said Dr Phadindra Prasad Baral, chief of the Mental Health Section at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. “Trained health workers will not only be mobilised for assessment but will also provide training to health workers serving under the provincial government and local units, so that they can assess service quality of health facilities of their respective jurisdiction.” Minimum service standards for hospitals are the service readiness and availability of tools for optimal requirements of hospitals to ensure minimum services. The concept was readied in 2014 with the technical and financial support of the Nick Simons Institute, according to officials. They say that around 300 checklists have been prepared for the assessment. Governance and management part weighed 20 percent, clinical service management part weighed 60 percent and hospital service support service weighed 20 percent. Several hospitals including Lagankhel-based Nepal Mental Hospital and Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital scored less than 50 percent in the assessment carried out in the past. Officials say that minimum service standard score for hospitals measures existing situations and enables them to identify the gap areas to be addressed. It helps to develop action plans, technical and financial inputs and managerial commitments. “We will not only check if the hospitals have met the service quality and other requirements, but also provide support including financial support to address the shortcomings,” said Baral. “The Ministry of Health and Population and Nick Simons Institute have allocated a budget for this programme.” Officials say that during inspection, they will monitor hospital equipment, manpower, hospital waste management, power back-up, availability of drinking water, operation theatres and emergency wards, among others. Meanwhile, the Public Health Office, Kathmandu said that only 12 percent of the state-run health facility buildings in the district run by local governments met required construction standards. None of the health facilities run by local units in the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Kirtipur Municipality, Tokha Municipality and Gokarneshwor Municipality meet construction standards. Four health facilities each of Tarakeshwor Municipality and Kageshwori Manohara Municipality meet construction standards. Likewise, only two health facilities each of Shankarapur Municipality, Budhanilkantha Municipality and Nagarjun Municipality meet the standards. The health office has not carried out inspection of the construction standard of the private health facilities operating in the district but past study shows that over 95 percent hospitals have been operating from residential buildings. Those health facilities operating in the rented residential buildings neither have proper patient safety measures nor are equipped to withstand disasters like earthquake and fire. Officials say that they are aware that buildings that are currently being used by private hospitals were built many years ago and do not meet the basic criteria as they aren’t equipped with emergency entry and exit points, fire escapes, and waiting areas, among others. Owners of the private hospitals had committed to shift to safer structures within six years in 2013 but they are yet to do so.

Healthcare

Quality Assessment of Health Facilities

['healthcare services', 'state-run health facilities', 'minimum service standards', 'hospital assessment', 'quality improvement']

0.5

Neutral

[]

['Nepal Mental Hospital', 'Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital']

['Ministry of Health and Population', 'Nick Simons Institute', 'Public Health Office']

['Phadindra Prasad Baral']

['Madhesh Province', 'Kathmandu', 'Kirtipur Municipality', 'Tokha Municipality', 'Gokarneshwor Municipality', 'Tarakeshwor Municipality', 'Kageshwori Manohara Municipality', 'Shankarapur Municipality', 'Budhanilkantha Municipality', 'Nagarjun Municipality']

[]

3,761

0

1

3

10

0

2

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Positive', 'Nick Simons Institute': 'Positive', 'Public Health Office': 'Neutral'}

{'Phadindra Prasad Baral': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Nepal Mental Hospital': 'Negative', 'Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital': 'Negative'}

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 0.8, 'Nick Simons Institute': 0.8, 'Public Health Office': 0.0}

{'Phadindra Prasad Baral': 0.7}

{}

{'Nepal Mental Hospital': -0.6, 'Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital': -0.6}

Both

{}

[]

0

{ "locations": {} }

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/12/sickle-cell-patients-in-surkhet-battle-disease-and-poverty

2025-11-13 07:16:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

Sickle cell patients in Surkhet battle disease and poverty

Tripti Shahi

2025-11-12

Birendranagar

Every month, 43-year-old Prem Bahadur Chaudhary from ward 10 of Birendranagar Municipality, Surkhet, makes a tiring journey to Nepalgunj in Lumbini province just to buy the medicines that keep him alive. A patient of sickle cell anaemia since 2016, Prem says he has never found consistent access to treatment in Birendranagar, the provincial capital of Karnali. “There are hospitals everywhere in Birendranagar, but none provide the medicines I need,” Prem complained. “Since my diagnosis, I’ve been travelling to Nepalgunj for checkups and medicines. The travel and lodging cost more than the medicines themselves.” The problem is not his alone. All patients diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia in Surkhet must travel to Bheri Hospital in Nepalgunj—the only major public facility in western Nepal that provides comprehensive treatment for the disease. The monthly health checkups are mandatory for patients, but the financial and physical strain of travelling is punishing. “The medicines cost about Rs2,000 a month, but we spend over Rs5,000 just to reach Nepalgunj for consultations, buy medicines and manage travel and other expenses,” said Bimala Chaudhary, another patient from Birendranagar. “We lose two days travelling, and sometimes we face dismissive attitudes in hospitals there. If medicines were available here, we could save money and our dignity.” Locals say the lack of treatment facilities in Karnali exposes deep inequities in the province’s health system. “Patients are not only battling the disease—they are also carrying a mental and financial burden,” said Prem, calling on provincial authorities to ensure that the Karnali Provincial Hospital provides both treatment and medicines. According to Dila Bahadur Chaudhary, chair of the Sickle Cell Community Hospital and Research Centre in Surkhet, the problem reflects the government’s neglect of a disease that disproportionately affects the Tharu community. “Sickle cell anaemia is slowly affecting generations of Tharus, but the authorities continue to treat it as a minor issue,” he said. “If the government ensures diagnosis cards and subsidised medicine in Surkhet, it would greatly relieve the poor Tharu families.” For many families, the cost is unbearable. Ram Krishna Tharu, a resident of Kalimati in ward 9 of Birendranagar Municipality, said his entire family suffers from sickle cell anaemia. “We have to travel to Nepalgunj again and again,” he said. “I’ve already sold a piece of land to cover medical expenses.” Although once believed to be confined to the Tharu population in the Tarai, cases have spread to Tharu families settled in Surkhet and other hill districts of Karnali. “In our latest survey, we found a sharp rise in infections in Surkhet,” said Dr Surendra Chaudhary, a researcher on sickle cell anaemia. According to Chaudhary, tests conducted in 2023 found 70 positive cases among 737 people screened in Surkhet. Another survey in 2024 found 18 infections among 201 individuals. “If we expand testing, we will definitely find more cases,” he said. As per the 2021 National Census, Surkhet has a Tharu population of around 9,000, but only a small portion has been tested. Local leaders say inadequate screening has left many undiagnosed. Public Health Inspector Kiran Sharma at the Karnali Province Health Directorate said the provincial government has allocated Rs10 million this fiscal year to treat 12 complex diseases, including sickle cell anaemia. “We plan to use the budget to support patients of sickle cell anaemia,” he said. This hereditary condition, in which a patient’s red blood cells become stiff and abnormally ‘sickle or crescent-shaped’, is a major health threat for Tharus living in the southern plains. A person with sickle cell disease can live a long life with timely diagnosis, regular checkups, and the adoption of a healthy way of life. But if ignored, the condition can be fatal.

Sickle Cell Anaemia

Access to Treatment in Nepal

['Sickle Cell Anaemia', 'Nepal', 'Treatment', 'Tharu Community', 'Healthcare Access', 'Karnali Province']

0.6

Negative

['sickle cell anaemia', 'sickle cell disease']

['Bheri Hospital', 'Karnali Provincial Hospital', 'Sickle Cell Community Hospital and Research Centre']

['Karnali Province Health Directorate']

['Prem Bahadur Chaudhary', 'Bimala Chaudhary', 'Dila Bahadur Chaudhary', 'Ram Krishna Tharu', 'Dr Surendra Chaudhary', 'Kiran Sharma']

['Nepalgunj', 'Lumbini province', 'Birendranagar', 'Surkhet', 'Karnali', 'Tarai', 'Tharu', 'Kalimati']

[]

3,904

2

6

1

8

0

3

{'Karnali Province Health Directorate': 'Positive'}

{'Prem Bahadur Chaudhary': 'Positive', 'Bimala Chaudhary': 'Positive', 'Dila Bahadur Chaudhary': 'Positive', 'Ram Krishna Tharu': 'Positive', 'Dr Surendra Chaudhary': 'Neutral', 'Kiran Sharma': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Bheri Hospital': 'Negative', 'Karnali Provincial Hospital': 'Negative', 'Sickle Cell Community Hospital and Research Centre': 'Positive'}

{'Karnali Province Health Directorate': 0.7}

{'Prem Bahadur Chaudhary': 0.7, 'Bimala Chaudhary': 0.7, 'Dila Bahadur Chaudhary': 0.8, 'Ram Krishna Tharu': 0.7, 'Dr Surendra Chaudhary': 0.0, 'Kiran Sharma': 0.6}

{}

{'Bheri Hospital': -0.4, 'Karnali Provincial Hospital': -0.6, 'Sickle Cell Community Hospital and Research Centre': 0.6}

Both

{'sickle cell anaemia': 'addressed', 'sickle cell disease': 'addressed'}

['Birendranagar Municipality', 'Surkhet', 'Nepalgunj', 'Lumbini province', 'Karnali', 'Bheri Hospital', 'Kalimati', 'Tarai']

8

{'Banke': ['sickle cell anaemia'], 'Surkhet': ['sickle cell anaemia']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/11/je-claims-34-lives-76-percent-of-victims-above-40-years

2025-11-11 19:48:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

JE claims 34 lives, 76 percent of victims above 40 years

Post Report

2025-11-11

Kathmandu

As many as 34 people died and 175 others were infected with the Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus that has spread to 117 local units of 45 districts of Nepal since June. The number of deaths, death rate, and infections are at their highest in recent years, which immunisation experts say is alarming. “One third death, one third disability and one third cure is a thing of the past,” said Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, former director general at the Department of Health Services. “High mortality and morbidity rate indicates not only rapid surge in the deadly virus but also serious problems in the quality of healthcare services.” JE is a viral brain infection, endemic to Asia and parts of the Western Pacific. According to the World Health Organisation, it is a mosquito-borne flavivirus belonging to the same family as dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and West Nile viruses. The virus kills a third of those who fall ill and leaves up to a half of those who survive with severe life-long disabilities, according to the UN health body. Last year, 23 people succumbed to JE, including one in Kathmandu Valley, and over 80 people were infected. New data from the Immunisation Section of the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services shows that the majority—76 percent of JE related deaths occurred in people above 40 years of age. The deadly virus first appeared in eastern Nepal in June and gradually spread to the western parts of the country. Of the 45 affected districts, 23 are hill districts. Lumbini province reported 11 JE deaths and 55 infections, the highest in the country, followed by Gandaki province with five deaths and 34 infections, and Bagmati province with eight deaths and 24 infections. Similarly, Koshi province reported four deaths and 23 infections, Madhesh province three deaths and 17 infections, Sudurpaschim province two deaths and 15 infections, and Karnali province one death and seven infections. The number of reported cases could be just the tip of the iceberg, as tests are usually carried out only on hospitalised patients with severe conditions, officials say. Seventy percent of lab-confirmed JE cases have been detected in those above 15 years of age. Doctors say complications from JE infection could cause permanent injuries to the brain and the nervous system. As there is no specific cure, treatment focuses on managing symptoms. However, safe and effective vaccines have been developed to prevent infection. Health officials said that their attempts to persuade development partners, including the World Health Organisation, to support a mass JE vaccination campaign have not succeeded in the past year. “Discussions were ongoing to inoculate vulnerable populations with JE vaccine in the past,” an official at the Health Ministry said, asking not to be named, as he is not authorised to speak to the media. “But after the devastation caused by Gen Z protests and change in the government leadership, neither any discussion nor progress has been made in this issue.” The youth-led anti-corruption protests on September 8 and 9 caused unprecedented damage to public and private property in Nepal and forced out the KP Oli-led coalition government. Seventy-six people, mostly youths, were killed. Public health experts say the current interim government must prioritise vaccination for vulnerable populations if it cannot inoculate everyone at once. “Saving the lives is the primary duty of any government,” said Upreti. “Pig farmers and those involved in agriculture have been especially affected and should be prioritised for vaccination.” In 2005, JE killed nearly 2,000 people in Nepal—mostly children in districts in the southern plains. Nepal started administering the vaccine in 2006, eight years before the World Health Organisation officially issued prequalification certification, due to high rates of infection and deaths from the virus at the time. In the first phase, all populations of the highly affected four districts—Banke, Bardiya, Dang, and Kailali—were vaccinated. Later, the programme was expanded to 19 other affected districts, targeting children under 15. The government integrated the JE vaccine into routine immunisation in 2015. Even then, people continue to die, and dozens get infected every year. The JE virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Culex mosquitoes. Pigs and ducks are considered natural reservoirs of the virus. Doctors advise avoiding mosquito bites, such as by using mosquito repellents, wearing long-sleeved clothes, and getting vaccinated if one lives in or travels to disease-endemic areas. They also stress the importance of awareness and timely treatment to prevent infections and deaths. An estimated 12.5 million people are thought to be at high risk of JE infection in Nepal.

Japanese Encephalitis Outbreak

Nepal Health Crisis

['Japanese Encephalitis', 'Nepal', 'Outbreak', 'Vaccination', 'Mosquito-Borne Virus', 'Healthcare Crisis']

-0.8

Negative

['Japanese encephalitis', 'dengue', 'Zika', 'yellow fever', 'West Nile viruses']

[]

['World Health Organisation', 'Department of Health Services', 'Family Welfare Division', 'Health Ministry']

['Dr Shyam Raj Upreti', 'KP Oli']

['Nepal', 'Asia', 'Western Pacific', 'Kathmandu Valley', 'Lumbini province', 'Gandaki province', 'Bagmati province', 'Koshi province', 'Madhesh province', 'Sudurpaschim province', 'Karnali province', 'Banke', 'Bardiya', 'Dang', 'Kailali']

['JE vaccine']

[]

4,804

5

2

4

15

0

1

0

{'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'Department of Health Services': 'Negative', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Neutral', 'Health Ministry': 'Negative'}

{'Dr Shyam Raj Upreti': 'Positive', 'KP Oli': 'Negative'}

{}

{'World Health Organisation': 0, 'Department of Health Services': -0.6, 'Family Welfare Division': 0, 'Health Ministry': -0.5}

{'Dr Shyam Raj Upreti': 0.6, 'KP Oli': -0.5}

{}

Physical

{'Japanese encephalitis': 'addressed', 'dengue': 'not addressed', 'Zika': 'not addressed', 'yellow fever': 'not addressed', 'West Nile viruses': 'not addressed'}

['Lumbini province', 'Gandaki province', 'Bagmati province', 'Koshi province', 'Madhesh province', 'Sudurpaschim province', 'Karnali province', 'Kathmandu Valley', 'Banke', 'Bardiya', 'Dang', 'Kailali']

12

{'Banke': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Bardiya': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Dang': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Kailali': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Kathmandu': ['Japanese encephalitis']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/10/air-turn-toxic-as-authorities-look-the-other-way

2025-11-11 10:26:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

Air turns toxic, as authorities look the other way

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-10

Kathmandu

Open burning has become a daily concern for Dinesh Lal Shrestha, a resident of Tarakeshwar Municipality in the northwestern rim of Kathmandu Valley, and his morning-walk companions. With the start of the dry season, stubble and waste burning in the open, which has become rampant around the Kathmandu Valley, has again become a big factor behind deteriorating air quality. “One can see thick plumes of smoke at multiple locations within a small area,” complained Shrestha, who is from ward 5 of the municipality. “Along with open burnings, pollution layers can be seen in the skyline in the morning, which means air quality in the Valley is worsening. I wonder why the authorities are not taking measures to prevent this.” After every harvest, farmers often burn stubble and other agricultural waste to prepare fields for new crops. Along with this, burning other types of waste also contributes to the deterioration of air quality. According to the air quality data of IQAir, a Swiss group that collects air quality data from around the world, air quality of various places of the Kathmandu Valley have reached unhealthy levels for sensitive groups. The air quality of Kritipur reached 138 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3) on Monday afternoon. Gausala, Kathmandu recorded 137 micrograms per cubic metre followed by Chhetrapati area 133, Ramkot 130, Tarakeshwar 120, and Thapathali 119 micrograms per cubic metre. The western Nepal town of Dhangadhi recorded 142 micrograms per cubic metre. PM2.5 refers to particulate matter (solid or liquid droplets) in the air that is less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. It is among the most dangerous pollutants that can get past the nose and throat to penetrate the lungs and even the bloodstream. PM2.5 particles are small and are also likely to stay suspended in the air for a long time, increasing the chances of people inhaling them. The PM2.5 concentration recorded on Monday is many times higher than the World Health Organisation’s annual guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic metre. By comparison, Indian capital New Delhi has been ranked as the world’s most polluted city, with an air quality index of 451 on Monday followed by Lahore, Pakistan, at 392. “Me and my morning walk companions ask people not to burn, when we see them setting fires,” said Shrestha. “But most people ignore our request. Local authorities can launch awareness drives, and take preventive measures, including fines, to prevent open burning practices, but they are doing nothing,” On Sunday, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City issued a public notice asking people not to burn waste. The Environment Department of the city office has also warned that violators could be fined up to Rs10,000. “We will send our [municipal] police immediately if we are informed about open burning,” said Sarita Rai, chief of the department. “But we all know that our initiative alone is not sufficient to keep the air of the Valley clean. Smoke from open burning in other local bodies also pollutes the air of the entire Kathmandu Valley.” When asked if the city office is coordinating with other local bodies in the Valley to tackle open burning and air pollution, Rai said that each municipality operates independently and manages things within its own jurisdiction. Elected members of Tarakeshwar Municipality claimed that they are unaware of open burning within the municipality and said burning of stubble to clear the agriculture fields should not be seen as a big issue. “We have some agricultural lands and farmers in our municipality,” said Shambhu Prasad Phuyal, chair of ward-5 of the municipality.“Farmers burn agricultural waste during cultivation, which is common practice. We have issued a notice prohibiting burning of hazardous waste.” Hazardous air pollution poses significant health and economic challenges for Nepal. According to the World Bank report, air pollution shortens the average life expectancy of Nepal’s residents by more than three years, and leads to almost 26,000 premature deaths each year. Beyond health impacts, poor air quality leads to reduced labor productivity and negatively impacts tourism (lower visibility of the Himalayas and cancelled flights). Overall, poor air quality is estimated to cost the equivalent of more than six percent of Nepal’s gross domestic product (GDP) each year. Several studies carried out in the past in Nepal also showed that toxic air takes a huge toll on public health and cuts short people’s lives. Nepali lives are being cut short by around five years, according to a report by the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), which converts air pollution concentration into an impact on life expectancy. AQLI is a metric produced by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. Air quality experts say that without local governments taking initiatives to prevent open burning and other measures, improvement of air quality is almost impossible.They say that through awareness drives and other preventive measures, local authorities can bring the behaviour of waste burning. “Along with the burning of agricultural waste, people also burn hazardous waste materials,” said Bhupendra Das, an air quality and clean energy specialist. “And such practice is not limited to any particular place but common all over the country.” Experts stress the need for coordination among local units to reduce emissions including from waste burning and other sources, including factories and vehicles. Air pollution has emerged as the number one risk factor for death and disability in Nepal, surpassing malnutrition and tobacco use, according to the World Bank.

Air Pollution

Open Burning in Kathmandu Valley

['Air Quality', 'Open Burning', 'Stubble Burning', 'Kathmandu Valley', 'PM2.5', 'Air Pollution', 'Nepal']

-0.8

Negative

[]

['IQAir', 'World Health Organisation', 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City', 'Environment Department', 'World Bank', 'Energy Policy Institute', 'University of Chicago']

['Dinesh Lal Shrestha', 'Sarita Rai', 'Shambhu Prasad Phuyal', 'Bhupendra Das']

['Kathmandu Valley', 'Tarakeshwar Municipality', 'Kritipur', 'Gausala', 'Kathmandu', 'Chhetrapati', 'Ramkot', 'Tarakeshwar', 'Thapathali', 'Dhangadhi', 'Nepal', 'New Delhi', 'Lahore', 'Pakistan', 'Himalayas', 'Chicago']

[]

5,624

0

4

7

16

0

{'IQAir': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 'Negative', 'Environment Department': 'Neutral', 'World Bank': 'Positive', 'Energy Policy Institute': 'Positive', 'University of Chicago': 'Positive'}

{'Dinesh Lal Shrestha': 'Positive', 'Sarita Rai': 'Positive', 'Shambhu Prasad Phuyal': 'Neutral', 'Bhupendra Das': 'Positive'}

{}

{'IQAir': 0.6, 'World Health Organisation': 0.0, 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': -0.4, 'Environment Department': 0.0, 'World Bank': 0.5, 'Energy Policy Institute': 0.5, 'University of Chicago': 0.5}

{'Dinesh Lal Shrestha': 0.7, 'Sarita Rai': 0.6, 'Shambhu Prasad Phuyal': 0.0, 'Bhupendra Das': 0.6}

{}

Physical

{}

['Tarakeshwar Municipality', 'Kathmandu Valley', 'Kritipur', 'Gausala', 'Chhetrapati', 'Ramkot', 'Thapathali', 'Dhangadhi', 'New Delhi', 'Lahore', 'Nepal', 'World Bank', 'University of Chicago']

13

{'locations': {}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/09/how-nepal-s-data-reshaped-global-vaccine-policy

2025-11-09 21:55:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

How Nepal’s data reshaped global vaccine policy

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-09

Kathmandu

Until 2005, Nepal had to rely on evidence from studies on childhood illnesses carried out in foreign countries. However, with the generation of homegrown data from 2005 through collaboration between Patan Hospital and the Oxford Vaccine Group, the country not only introduced new vaccines in its routine childhood vaccine list and saved hundreds of lives, but also helped reshape the global vaccine policy. And it has already been 20 years of collaboration. Over these years, the partnership between the hospital and the group has shaped the recommendations of the World Health Organisation-Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (WHO-SAGE) on Immunisation regarding vaccine schedule flexibility and typhoid vaccine rollout. Moreover, it has generated crucial evidence for understanding childhood illnesses. “First we studied meningitis, sepsis, pneumonia, among other disease burdens, in Nepali children in our hospital,” said Dr Srijana Shrestha, professor of paediatrics at Patan Academy of Health Sciences. “The study helped us generate local evidence on disease burden, present the scientific findings to the government and international community and influence national as well as global vaccine schedules.” At that time, meningitis, sepsis and pneumonia were among the deadliest childhood diseases in Nepal, killing scores of children every year. Meningitis is the inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord, which is associated with high risk of death and long-term complications. Similarly, sepsis is also a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Nepal from which children and newborns have been much affected. Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of infant mortality, according to doctors. Pneumonia, an infection of lungs caused by various types of bacteria, viruses and fungi, is the number one killer of children under five in Nepal. It kills more children annually than malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV combined. In 2015, Nepal included pneumonia vaccine on the regular immunisation list to prevent under-five mortality, and became one of the first countries in Southeast Asia to do so. Shrestha said that at that time, three types of pneumonia vaccines (PCV-7, 10 and 13) were available that protected against 7, 10 and 13 serotypes of the pathogen, respectively. Child health experts in the country and experts from aid agencies wanted to use PCV-13. But PCV-13 comes in single dose vials only and if it was chosen, there would be the issue of vaccine storage. “The results of the study carried out in our hospital showed that the PCV-10 vaccine that comes in multi-dose vials, covers most of the pathogens responsible for pneumonia in our country,” said Shrestha. “We passed the information to the government that helped to take the decision to include PCV-10 in the routine immunisation list.” Likewise, Nepal introduced pneumococcal conjugate vaccine using a unique 2+1 PCV schedule, with primary doses at six weeks, 10 weeks and a booster shot at nine months of age. The government’s decision was guided by evidence from the study conducted at Patan Hospital. The study showed that a 2+1 PCV schedule generated a strong immunogenic response, and that a four-week interval between doses was safe and effective, and this was as effective as the WHO standard schedule. The World Health Organisation-Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation acknowledged the study's report and recommended vaccine schedule flexibility that the gap between the two doses can be shortened to four weeks. Many countries across the globe follow the 2+1 schedule at present, according to doctors. Along with this, the hospital also carried out human trials of the typhoid vaccine on 20,000 children seeking treatment at Patan Hospital in collaboration with Oxford Vaccine Group. Typhoid fever, usually called typhoid, is a highly contagious disease caused by Salmonella typhi, which spreads through contaminated food or water. Studies have shown that the disease can be fatal in up to 10 percent of the reported cases. Typhoid fever is found throughout the world but the problem is acute in the areas where safe drinking water and sanitation is a problem. Nepal has also recorded major typhoid outbreaks in the past, but very few cases have been reported in the past few years. In 2022, Nepal introduced typhoid vaccine into its regular immunisation list and launched a nationwide campaign during which around seven million children under 15 years of age were inoculated. Doctors say evidence generated in Nepal supported the funding decision of the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI) and the UN health body’s recommendations for global rollout of the typhoid conjugate vaccine. “Without Nepal’s data, typhoid vaccine would not have scaled globally,” said Shrestha. “Data generated by our country provided critical evidence that became a cornerstone in formulating policies for saving lives.” Experts say Patan Hospital’s collaboration with Oxford Vaccine Group shows high-level research is possible in low-resource settings like Nepal, if long term investments are made, health facilities are strengthened and trained human resources are ensured.

Nepal's vaccine research and policy impact

Collaboration between Patan Hospital and Oxford Vaccine Group

['vaccine research', 'childhood illnesses', 'typhoid vaccine', 'pneumonia vaccine', 'WHO-SAGE', 'global vaccine policy']

0.8

Positive

['meningitis', 'sepsis', 'pneumonia', 'malaria', 'tuberculosis', 'HIV', 'typhoid fever', 'neonatal sepsis']

['Patan Hospital']

['Oxford Vaccine Group', 'World Health Organisation', 'World Health Organisation-Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (WHO-SAGE) on Immunisation', 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI)', 'Patan Academy of Health Sciences']

['Dr Srijana Shrestha']

['Nepal', 'Southeast Asia']

['pneumonia vaccine', 'PCV-7', 'PCV-10', 'PCV-13', 'pneumococcal conjugate vaccine', 'typhoid vaccine', 'typhoid conjugate vaccine']

['global vaccine policy', 'vaccine schedule flexibility', 'national vaccine schedules', 'immunisation list']

5,192

8

1

5

2

4

7

1

{'Oxford Vaccine Group': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation-Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (WHO-SAGE) on Immunisation': 'Positive', 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI)': 'Positive', 'Patan Academy of Health Sciences': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Srijana Shrestha': 'Positive'}

{'global vaccine policy': 'Positive', 'vaccine schedule flexibility': 'Positive', 'national vaccine schedules': 'Positive', 'immunisation list': 'Positive'}

{'Patan Hospital': 'Positive'}

{'Oxford Vaccine Group': 0.9, 'World Health Organisation': 0.7, 'World Health Organisation-Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (WHO-SAGE) on Immunisation': 0.85, 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI)': 0.8, 'Patan Academy of Health Sciences': 0.85}

{'Dr Srijana Shrestha': 0.94}

{'global vaccine policy': 0.82, 'vaccine schedule flexibility': 0.71, 'national vaccine schedules': 0.76, 'immunisation list': 0.79}

{'Patan Hospital': 0.94}

Physical

{'meningitis': 'not addressed', 'sepsis': 'not addressed', 'pneumonia': 'addressed', 'malaria': 'not addressed', 'tuberculosis': 'not addressed', 'HIV': 'not addressed', 'typhoid fever': 'addressed', 'neonatal sepsis': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Southeast Asia']

2

{'Lalitpur': ['meningitis', 'sepsis', 'pneumonia', 'typhoid fever']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/07/life-saving-anti-rabies-vaccine-in-short-supply-across-nepal

2025-11-07 16:29:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

Life-saving anti-rabies vaccine in short supply across Nepal

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-07

Kathmandu

A few months ago, a woman in her early 30s from outside the Kathmandu Valley was rushed to Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital after she exhibited rabies symptoms. Her husband told doctors that he had taken her wife to nearby health facilities for an anti-rabies vaccine after a dog bite, but the facility lacked an anti-rabies vaccine at the time. “I didn’t have money to buy the anti-rabies vaccine from a private pharmacy, and neither hospital nor private pharmacies warned me about the fatal risks if the vaccine is not administered immediately,” a doctor at the hospital quoted the victim’s husband as saying. “I am a daily wage labourer and would have done anything to save my wife.” Rabies is 100 percent preventable if the anti-rabies vaccine is administered on time, but if clinical symptoms start appearing, the disease is always fatal. The woman died in the course of treatment. For months, dog bite victims have complained about being deprived of the rabies vaccine in state-run health facilities. Health officials at the Ministry of Health and Population, however, have repeatedly denied any shortage of the vaccine at health facilities, even though victims are forced to pay for the vaccine themselves. When the Post inquired with officials from provincial health agencies about the stock of anti-rabies vaccine, they admitted there was a critical shortage. “We received only 3,300 doses of rabies vaccine from the federal government,” said Nelson Mahat, information officer at the Health Logistics Management Centre of Bagmati province. “The doses are insufficient even for a month. We have to supply the vaccine to health facilities in 13 districts, and demand is especially high in Chitwan and other districts. Change in vaccine protocol has also increased demand.” Officials at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division acknowledged the low stock. “Yes, we do not have much stock of rabies vaccine,” said Dr Chandra Bhal Jha, director at the division on Wednesday. “We are in the process of purchasing more, and Rs190 million has been allocated to purchase the vaccine this fiscal year.” Jha admitted that shortages could occur in health facilities, as the procurement process takes months. Doctors warn of increased deaths from rabies infection if victims do not get free vaccines. They say that most victims cannot afford to pay for the vaccine, and free administration is the only way to save lives. “If victims are deprived of the vaccine in state-run health facilities, it causes psychological distress to them and their family,” said Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, chief of Clinical Research Unit at Sukraraj Hospital. “Deaths from rabies could also spike if the availability is not ensured on time.” Rabies is a deadly viral disease that spreads through the saliva of infected animals, especially dogs and jackals. Dog bites are responsible for almost all rabies deaths in Nepal. Nepal aims to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies by 2030, a target the World Health Organisation set. However, the Health Ministry’s data show that dogbite cases have been rising every year. Over 60,000 people seek rabies vaccines at state-run health facilities every year. Every day, around 400 people come to Sukraraj Hospital for the vaccine, while thousands more seek treatment at private centres. It is estimated that over 100 people die of rabies every year throughout the country. Doctors say not all dog bite incidents appear on record or all victims seek treatment, which is a challenge to preventing rabies deaths and a major obstacle to meeting the goal of eliminating dog-transmitted rabies by 2030. Rabies, according to the World Health Organisation, kills 59,000 people globally every year, one person every nine minutes, mostly children and the poor. The disease, while fatal, is 100 percent preventable if there is access to vaccines and life-saving treatment after dog bites.

Rabies Outbreak

Vaccine Shortage in Nepal

['Rabies', 'Vaccine Shortage', 'Nepal', 'Dog Bites', 'Public Health']

0.8

Negative

['Rabies']

['Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital']

['Ministry of Health and Population', 'Health Logistics Management Centre', 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division', 'World Health Organisation']

['Nelson Mahat', 'Dr Chandra Bhal Jha', 'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun']

['Kathmandu Valley', 'Nepal', 'Chitwan', 'Bagmati province']

['anti-rabies vaccine']

['elimination of dog-transmitted rabies by 2030']

3,906

1

3

4

1

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Negative', 'Health Logistics Management Centre': 'Neutral', 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive'}

{'Nelson Mahat': 'Neutral', 'Dr Chandra Bhal Jha': 'Neutral', 'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun': 'Neutral'}

{'elimination of dog-transmitted rabies by 2030': 'Negative'}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'Ministry of Health and Population': -0.7, 'Health Logistics Management Centre': 0.0, 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 0.0, 'World Health Organisation': 0.6}

{'Nelson Mahat': 0.0, 'Dr Chandra Bhal Jha': 0.0, 'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun': 0.0}

{'elimination of dog-transmitted rabies by 2030': -0.6}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 0.0}

Both

{'Rabies': 'addressed'}

[]

0

{'Chitwan': ['rabies'], 'Kathmandu': ['rabies']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/06/nationwide-vitamin-a-and-deworming-campaign-begins

2025-11-06 17:39:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

Nationwide Vitamin A and deworming campaign begins

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-06

Kathmandu

A two-day nationwide vitamin and deworming campaign has started on Thursday. Around 2.2 million children between six to 59 months will be given vitamin A. Of them around 1.9 million children between one to five years will also receive deworming tablets during the campaign. Around 54,000 female community health volunteers have been deployed nationwide for the purpose. The health ministry has been conducting the campaign twice a year—in April and in November—since 2003. “We have already supplied vitamin A and deworming tablets to all local units throughout the country,” said Lila Bikram Thapa, chief of Nutrition Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “Female community health volunteers have been mobilised to give the supplement and deworming tablets to the children.” Officials say that vitamin A supplementation and a deworming tablet administration campaigns are crucial in preventing many childhood diseases and reducing mortality among children under five. It is because of supplementation campaigns like these that night blindness among children, which used to be very high until two decades ago, has been almost eliminated, according to Thapa. Vitamin A deficiency is estimated to contribute to nearly one-fourth of global child mortality from measles, diarrhoea and malaria. The campaign is regarded as a public health success story in Nepal, as it has helped address vitamin A deficiency among children, which used to be a major concern in the country. Regular supplementation campaigns are estimated to have reduced deaths among children under five by 23 percent. Deworming tablets are crucial in preventing many childhood diseases and in reducing child mortality, according to child health experts. The vitamin A supplementations and the deworming campaign had coverage rates of over 94 percent, the highest among all health campaigns run in the country in the past. Child health experts say that vitamin A supplementation campaigns are important for children's overall growth and for protecting them from various infectious diseases. According to the World Health Organisation, vitamin A deficiency causes visual impairment (night blindness) and vulnerability to illnesses like measles and diarrhoea among children. The supplement boosts immunity and ensures children’s natural growth.

Vitamin and Deworming Campaign

Child Health Improvement

['Vitamin A', 'Deworming Tablets', 'Child Mortality', 'Night Blindness', 'Childhood Diseases']

0.8

Positive

['vitamin A deficiency', 'night blindness', 'measles', 'diarrhoea', 'malaria']

[]

['Department of Health Services', 'Family Welfare Division', 'World Health Organisation']

['Lila Bikram Thapa']

['Nepal']

['deworming tablets', 'vitamin A']

[]

2,346

5

1

3

1

0

2

0

{'Department of Health Services': 'Positive', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive'}

{'Lila Bikram Thapa': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Department of Health Services': 0.9, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.9, 'World Health Organisation': 0.85}

{'Lila Bikram Thapa': 0.7}

{}

Physical

{'vitamin A deficiency': 'addressed', 'night blindness': 'addressed', 'measles': 'not addressed', 'diarrhoea': 'not addressed', 'malaria': 'not addressed'}

['nationwide', 'Nepal']

2

{ "location_by_disease": {} }

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/06/health-facilities-across-the-country-without-birth-control-shots-for-months

2025-11-06 06:59:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

Health facilities across the country without birth control shots for months

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-06

Kathmandu

There are only 200 Depo-Provera, a birth control shot, and 350 intrauterine devices, also a birth control means which health workers insert into the uterus, in the store of the Health Logistics Management Centre of Bagmati Province. These doses of contraception are in stock only because officials kept them despite high demand from health facilities in the province. “We have been unable to supply Depo-Provera, intrauterine devices (IUD) to health facilities for months due to the lack of those means in stock,” said Nelson Mahat, information officer at the centre. “Demands for means of family planning, especially Depo-Provera and intrauterine devices (IUD), from health facilities are high but we have no stocks to supply. Very few doses have been kept in stock for emergency use.” Besides, health facilities of Bagmati Province and other provinces across the country also have been without implants and other means of family planning since the start of 2025. The reason behind the short supply of these essential items is blamed on the failure of federal government agencies to purchase them for around two years, the appreciation of the US dollar against the Nepali rupee and inadequate funding. Suspension of USAID since the start of the year is another major reason for the short supply, according to officials. Depo-Provera is a popular and widely used contraceptive in Nepal. It is a birth control shot that has the hormone progestin, which often stops the ovaries from releasing eggs. The IUD is a small, T-shaped device placed in a woman’s womb. It provides contraceptive protection for up to 10 years and can be removed any time. IUD is also a popular means of contraception in Nepal. “We have not been able to purchase Depo-Provera, IUD, implants and other means of family planning due to price and other issues for a long time,” said Dr Pawan Jung Rayamajhi, director at the management division of the Department of Health Services. “The purchase of those commodities is still in process and it is taking time.” Officials admit that the shortage of family planning means for a long time leads to a rise in unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. In Nepal, nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended, and close to two-thirds of them end in abortion, according to a report by the UNFPA. The UNFPA’s ‘State of World Population 2022’ report, titled “Seeing the Unseen”, says half of the 1.2 million pregnancies in 2017 in Nepal were unintended, and nearly 359,000 ended in abortion. The report stated that the toll of unintended pregnancies is—and has long been—unseen. “Although we can estimate healthcare costs, monitor school dropout rates and project levels of workforce attrition due to unintended pregnancies, these only scratch the surface,” the report says. “No number could adequately represent the loss of life, agency and human capital that result from unintended pregnancies.” Every year, around 100,000 women undergo abortions in Nepal at legally authorised clinics and health facilities. Gynaecologists, however, say the actual number of abortions could be several times the government figure, as many abortions, especially medical ones, go unreported. The National Demographic Health Survey-2022 shows that 21 percent of currently married women in Nepal have an unmet need for family planning services. Health ministry officials blame inadequate funding, rise in the dollar price, and suspension of USAID for the shortage of family planning means. “The government has a commitment to provide contraceptives including birth control shots, IUD and implants free of cost but its own budget is limited,” said Sharmila Dahal, chief of the Family Planning and Reproductive Health Section of the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “We need Rs540 million for family planning programmes but we get only around 100 million as the budget was raised from Rs60 million last year.” Officials said that the United Nations Population Fund-supplied Depo-Provera and other means have just arrived in the country, which will be supplied to the health facilities at the earliest. They said that the demand for the contraceptives including birth control shots in the state-run health facilities has risen after the USAID funding to private organisations was suspended in January.

Family Planning

Shortage of Contraceptives in Nepal

['Depo-Provera', 'Intrauterine Devices', 'Contraceptives', 'Family Planning', 'USAID', 'Nepal']

0.6

Negative

[]

['Health Logistics Management Centre', 'USAID', 'UNFPA', 'Department of Health Services', 'Family Welfare Division']

['Nelson Mahat', 'Dr Pawan Jung Rayamajhi', 'Sharmila Dahal']

['Nepal', 'Bagmati Province']

['Depo-Provera']

[]

4,323

0

3

5

2

0

1

0

{'Health Logistics Management Centre': 'Neutral', 'USAID': 'Negative', 'UNFPA': 'Neutral', 'Department of Health Services': 'Negative', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Neutral'}

{'Nelson Mahat': 'Neutral', 'Dr Pawan Jung Rayamajhi': 'Neutral', 'Sharmila Dahal': 'Neutral'}

{}

{'Health Logistics Management Centre': 0.0, 'USAID': -0.7, 'UNFPA': 0.0, 'Department of Health Services': -0.6, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.0}

{'Nelson Mahat': 0, 'Dr Pawan Jung Rayamajhi': 0, 'Sharmila Dahal': 0}

{}

Physical

{}

['Bagmati Province', 'Nepal', 'USAID', 'United Nations Population Fund']

4

{ "locations": {} }

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/04/flu-and-fever-cases-are-rising-as-temperatures-dip

2025-11-04 18:05:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

Flu and fever cases are rising as temperatures dip

Post Report

2025-11-04

Kathmandu

Amid a change in season and a decline in temperatures, the number of people suffering from flu-like illnesses has started surging in major hospitals across the country. Doctors attending patients say they expect a further surge in influenza cases as winter progresses. “Cases of flu and fever have started to rise in our hospital,” said Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula, director at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital. “Along with a rise in the cases of fever and flu, demand for flu shots has also spiked of late.” Every year, during season changes and winter, thousands of people from across the country get infected with influenza viruses, which become more active in the cold season. The National Public Health Laboratory, which carries out regular influenza surveillance, said cases of influenza started to rise from September. The laboratory’s own data shows that the positivity rate of the influenza virus is around 16 percent. However, combined data, which includes figures from provincial public health laboratories and other influenza surveillance sites show over a 35 percent positivity rate. “Influenza cases surge twice a year, in February-March and in October-Novermber,” said Dr Ranjan Raj Bhatta, director at the laboratory. “One should not worry too much about the rise in influenza cases, as this happens on a regular basis, not only in our country but also elsewhere.” Doctors however, say that elderly people, small children and those having underlying health conditions—heart disease, renal problems, cancer, diabetes, among others—are vulnerable to getting severe. “Those with underlying health conditions who can afford the influenza vaccine should get inoculated on time,” said Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, a virologist and the chief of Clinical Research Unit at Sukraraj Hospital. “We don’t know who will get infected and develop severe symptoms, so it’s better to take precaution early.” Seasonal influenza caused by regular viruses—A(H1N1), A (H3), influenza B (victoria) and some others, whose lineages have not been subtyped yet—are responsible for the current surge. Doctors say seasonal influenza is also highly contagious. It mainly affects the lungs and quickly spreads in communities. They warn that if seasonal influenza is left untreated, it can cause pneumonia, which can be fatal. Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs caused by various types of bacteria, viruses and fungi, is the leading cause of death among children under five in Nepal. It kills more children annually than malaria, tuberculosis and HIV combined. According to the World Health Organisation, pneumonia accounts for 15 percent of under-five mortality. Doctors say pneumonia caused by bacteria is deadlier than that caused by viruses, and children under five and people above 65 years of age are highly vulnerable to the disease. Its symptoms include fever, cough, body aches, and in some cases, vomiting and diarrhoea. Thousands of people across the country contract pneumonia every year. Back in 2018, the average cost of hospitalisation for pneumonia was Rs13,250, nearly half the average monthly household expenditure in Nepal, according to a study by Pneumo Nepal, whose report was published in 2020. The study—which was carried out at Patan Hospital, Kanti Children's Hospital, Mission Hospital in Palpa, Bheri Hospital in Nepalgunj, and BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences—showed that unexpected medical costs often push families into poverty. “We recommend comorbid children to administer with updated influenza vaccines, which protects them from getting severe,” said Dr Srijana Shrestha, professor of pediatric at Patan Academy of Health Sciences. “Parents of small children must take precautions to protect their wards from cold and flu.” Experts say early diagnosis is crucial for preventing infection and complications. Patients recover quicker if treated promptly. However, the severity of the disease and deaths increase if seasonal influenza cases are not diagnosed on time. Public health measures—mask-wearing, handwashing, avoiding crowds, and maintaining social distancing—can reduce infection, doctors say.

Influenza

Seasonal Surge in Flu Cases

['influenza', 'flu season', 'seasonal influenza', 'vaccination', 'pneumonia', 'public health']

0.5

Neutral

['flu', 'influenza', 'fever', 'pneumonia', 'heart disease', 'renal problems', 'cancer', 'diabetes', 'HIV', 'tuberculosis', 'malaria']

['Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital', 'Patan Hospital', "Kanti Children's Hospital", 'Mission Hospital', 'Bheri Hospital', 'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences']

['National Public Health Laboratory', 'Pneumo Nepal', 'World Health Organisation', 'Patan Academy of Health Sciences']

['Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula', 'Dr Ranjan Raj Bhatta', 'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun', 'Dr Srijana Shrestha']

['Nepal']

['influenza vaccine']

[]

4,142

11

4

1

0

1

6

{'National Public Health Laboratory': 'Positive', 'Pneumo Nepal': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'Patan Academy of Health Sciences': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula': 'Positive', 'Dr Ranjan Raj Bhatta': 'Positive', 'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun': 'Positive', 'Dr Srijana Shrestha': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 'Positive', 'Patan Hospital': 'Neutral', "Kanti Children's Hospital": 'Neutral', 'Mission Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Bheri Hospital': 'Neutral', 'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences': 'Neutral'}

{'National Public Health Laboratory': 0.4, 'Pneumo Nepal': 0.0, 'World Health Organisation': 0.0, 'Patan Academy of Health Sciences': 0.5}

{'Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula': 0.62, 'Dr Ranjan Raj Bhatta': 0.58, 'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun': 0.65, 'Dr Srijana Shrestha': 0.68}

{}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 0.5, 'Patan Hospital': 0.0, "Kanti Children's Hospital": 0.0, 'Mission Hospital': 0.0, 'Bheri Hospital': 0.0, 'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences': 0.0}

Physical

{'flu': 'addressed', 'influenza': 'addressed', 'fever': 'not addressed', 'pneumonia': 'not addressed', 'heart disease': 'not addressed', 'renal problems': 'not addressed', 'cancer': 'not addressed', 'diabetes': 'not addressed', 'HIV': 'not addressed', 'tuberculosis': 'not addressed', 'malaria': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Palpa', 'Nepalgunj', 'Health Sciences', 'Patan Academy of Health Sciences']

5

{'Banke': ['pneumonia'], 'Kathmandu': ['influenza', 'pneumonia'], 'Lalitpur': ['pneumonia'], 'Palpa': ['pneumonia'], 'Sunsari': ['pneumonia']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/03/a-million-children-from-health-data-go-missing

2025-11-04 06:41:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

A million children go ‘missing’ from health data

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-03

Kathmandu

Until around two years ago, 3.2 million under-five children were estimated to be eligible for Vitamin A supplementation and deworming tablets. Health authorities used to supply the tablets through nationwide campaigns at health facilities across the country. However, the national census report unveiled by the National Statistic Office two years ago revised the number of targeted children to around 2.2 million. Public health experts are concerned as coverage rates for most health programmes including immunisation and Vitamin A supplementation were 85 to over 90 percent in the past, and stayed similarly high even after the decline in the target population. “Data on children is not based on our own estimation but derived from the population census,” said Lila Bikram Thapa, chief of the Nutrition Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “The number of children has declined due to the decline in overall fertility.” The Ministry of Health and Population launches a nationwide Vitamin A supplementation and deworming campaign twice every year. This year’s campaign will be held on Thursday and Friday (November 6-7). During the campaign, around 2.2 million children from six months to 59 months will get Vitamin A supplementation. Of them, around 1.9 million children between 12 months and 59 months will be given deworming tablets as well. Public health experts say that it is understandable for the number of children to decline in line with the declining fertility rate—and everyone is aware of the decline in fertility. However, they said that a decline of around one million children in a single year is impossible. They guess that either health authorities launched campaigns in the past based on wrong estimates and reported inaccurate coverage rates, or a large number of children have been missing from the programmes all along. “When we did not have the estimated number of children in the country, to whom did we administer vaccines in the past?” questioned Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, former director general of the Department of Health Services. “The two things cannot happen simultaneously—either we have been manipulating data of the target population and presenting wrong figures, or a large number of children are being excluded from essential services.” Experts say a decline of one million children in a year is a serious concern. As it also touches on the country’s demography, government agencies and policymakers must discuss the issue and offer clarification. “If the decline is accurate, what is our policy on demography, and how many children will not be born in the next five to 10 years?” questioned Dr Yasho Vardhan Pradhan, another former director general at the Department of Health Services. “If not, who were the children the government had been serving?” Officials at the Health Ministry said that data of the target population is sometimes manipulated to match the amount of vitamins tablets and other supplies they have bought. “Sometimes data is manipulated to secure more funds from aid agencies,” said an official asking not to be named. “Data on HIV, malaria, and other programmes were manipulated in the past. When aid budgets declined, the estimated number of affected population automatically dropped. Similarly, if commodities [medicines, supplies] were purchased in large quantities without knowing the actual number of targeted population, in that case too there is a tendency to raise the estimated population.” Nepal experienced a population growth of 0.92 percent per annum over the past decade, according to officials. The growth rate has declined due to various factors, including internal and external migration, late marriage, rise in literacy rates, high unemployment, exorbitant child care cost, among other reasons, experts say. “If the birthrate has declined alarmingly, this will lead to a topsy-turvy population pyramid, with more elderly people than young population,” said Dr Padam Bahadur Chand, former chief of the Policy Planning and International Cooperation Division at the Health Ministry. “What is happening? Authorities must explain to the public.”

Vitamin A supplementation and deworming campaign

Demographic impact and data accuracy

['Vitamin A supplementation', 'deworming tablets', 'population census', 'fertility rate', 'public health', 'data accuracy', 'demography']

0.6

Negative

['HIV', 'malaria']

[]

['National Statistic Office', 'Department of Health Services', 'Family Welfare Division', 'Ministry of Health and Population']

['Lila Bikram Thapa', 'Shyam Raj Upreti', 'Yasho Vardhan Pradhan', 'Padam Bahadur Chand']

['Nepal']

['Vitamin A supplementation', 'deworming tablets']

[]

4,155

2

4

1

0

2

0

{'National Statistic Office': 'Neutral', 'Department of Health Services': 'Negative', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Neutral', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Negative'}

{'Lila Bikram Thapa': 'Positive', 'Shyam Raj Upreti': 'Positive', 'Yasho Vardhan Pradhan': 'Positive', 'Padam Bahadur Chand': 'Positive'}

{}

{'National Statistic Office': 0, 'Department of Health Services': -0.7, 'Family Welfare Division': 0, 'Ministry of Health and Population': -0.7}

{'Lila Bikram Thapa': 0.7, 'Shyam Raj Upreti': 0.7, 'Yasho Vardhan Pradhan': 0.7, 'Padam Bahadur Chand': 0.7}

{}

Physical

{'HIV': 'not addressed', 'malaria': 'not addressed'}

[]

0

{ "location_by_disease": {} }

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/03/high-fever-kills-four-women-in-salyan-scrub-typhus-suspected

2025-11-04 06:44:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

High fever kills four women in Salyan local unit, scrub typhus suspected

Biplab Maharjan

2025-11-03

Salyan

A scrub typhus outbreak has spread across Darma Rural Municipality in Salyan district, prompting local authorities to launch health camps for testing and awareness. The move follows the deaths of four women over the past two weeks, all suffering from high fever with symptoms resembling scrub typhus. According to health officials, the victims—aged between 35 and 55—died during treatment at the Kohalpur-based Nepalgunj Teaching Hospital. As fever cases surged in the rural municipality, the local government, in coordination with the Salyan Health Service Office and local Gen Z Group, organised mobile health camps in Wards 3 and 5 on Sunday and Monday. “Out of 67 people tested in ward 3, 23 were confirmed positive for scrub typhus, while 28 out of 61 tested in ward 5 were also infected with the disease,” said Yagya Bahadur Basnet, the health unit chief at Darma Rural Municipality. “One of the patients has been referred to the district hospital for advanced care.” Basnet estimates that more than 600 residents across the rural municipality are currently suffering from fever. “We have started preparing to expand health tests to all wards from Tuesday,” said Nim Bahadur KC, chairman of Darma Rural Municipality. “Testing will be carried out regularly from health posts in Darmakot, Dhakadam and Bhalchaur,” he informed. The local people are in abject terror after many fever-patients have been detected with scrub typhus. “Many of us are terrified after four people died because they took medicines from the pharmacy for fever, delaying proper treatment, and several others later tested positive for scrub typhus,” said Lalita Khatri, a resident of Ward 2 of Darma Rural Municipality. She said the local government must pay greater attention to public health and ensure timely medical services to prevent avoidable deaths. “No one here had heard about a disease called scrub typhus earlier,” she said. “People thought it was just ordinary fever and bought medicines from local medical shops—but that negligence has now turned into an outbreak.” KC urged residents with fever to visit nearby health institutions immediately. “Since the infection is spreading rapidly, we have mobilised teams to raise awareness in the affected settlements and launched school-based campaigns to protect children,” he said. Scrub typhus, a bacterial disease transmitted through the bite of infected mites commonly found on rodents, causes high fever, headache and body pain. Public health experts warn that poor hygiene and exposure to bushy or grassy areas increase the risk of infection. “We have advised locals to wear protective clothing while working in fields and maintain household cleanliness,” Basnet said. Dr Arjun Budhamagar, chief of the Salyan Health Service Office, said the provincial government’s supply of testing kits has run out. “We are currently providing only technical assistance to the rural municipality’s health camps,” he said. “Due to a lack of budget, we have recommended that local governments procure kits from their own resources, while we have also requested additional supplies from the provincial government.” Scrub typhus, or bush typhus, is a potentially fatal infectious disease caused by the parasite Orientia tsutsugamushi, a mite-borne bacterium. It spreads to humans when bitten by infected chiggers (larval mites) found on mice. Scrub typhus is the second leading vector-borne disease in Nepal after dengue, which infects thousands every year and causes several deaths. In the fiscal year of 2024-25, at least 16,597 people across the country were infected with scrub typhus. Of the total cases of infection, Lumbini province recorded 4,322 cases, the highest number in the country, followed by Sudurpaschim province (3,746 cases), Karnali (2,539), Koshi (2,119), Bagmati (1,838), Gandaki (1,725) and Madhesh province (308). Some infected people died, but the actual number was not known, as most health facilities lack a proper system to determine causes of death.

Scrub Typhus Outbreak

Public Health Crisis in Nepal

['Scrub Typhus', 'Darma Rural Municipality', 'Nepal', 'Public Health', 'Outbreak', 'Infection', 'Mite-borne Disease']

-0.8

Negative

['scrub typhus', 'fever', 'bush typhus', 'dengue']

['Nepalgunj Teaching Hospital', 'district hospital']

['Salyan Health Service Office', 'Gen Z Group', 'local government', 'provincial government']

['Yagya Bahadur Basnet', 'Nim Bahadur KC', 'Lalita Khatri', 'Dr Arjun Budhamagar']

['Darma Rural Municipality', 'Salyan district', 'Wards 3 and 5', 'Darmakot', 'Dhakadam', 'Bhalchaur', 'Nepal', 'Lumbini province', 'Sudurpaschim province', 'Karnali', 'Koshi', 'Bagmati', 'Gandaki', 'Madhesh province']

[]

4,000

4

14

0

2

{'Salyan Health Service Office': 'Neutral', 'Gen Z Group': 'Positive', 'local government': 'Positive', 'provincial government': 'Negative'}

{'Yagya Bahadur Basnet': 'Positive', 'Nim Bahadur KC': 'Positive', 'Lalita Khatri': 'Neutral', 'Dr Arjun Budhamagar': 'Neutral'}

{}

{'Nepalgunj Teaching Hospital': 'Negative', 'district hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'Salyan Health Service Office': 0.2, 'Gen Z Group': 0.7, 'local government': 0.5, 'provincial government': -0.7}

{'Yagya Bahadur Basnet': 0.8, 'Nim Bahadur KC': 0.8, 'Lalita Khatri': 0.0, 'Dr Arjun Budhamagar': 0.0}

{}

{'Nepalgunj Teaching Hospital': -0.7, 'district hospital': 0.0}

Physical

{'scrub typhus': 'not addressed', 'fever': 'not addressed', 'bush typhus': 'not addressed', 'dengue': 'not addressed'}

['Darma Rural Municipality', 'Salyan district', 'Kohalpur', 'Nepalgunj', 'Wards 3', 'Wards 5', 'Darmakot', 'Dhakadam', 'Bhalchaur', 'Lumbini province', 'Sudurpaschim province', 'Karnali', 'Koshi', 'Bagmati', 'Gandaki', 'Madhesh province']

16

{'location_by_disease': {'Salyan': ['scrub typhus']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/02/three-dead-three-test-positive-for-cholera-in-saptari

2025-11-03 07:03:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

Three dead, three test positive for cholera in Saptari

Post Report

2025-11-02

Kathmandu

Three people suffering from severe diarrhoea have tested positive for cholera in the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) carried out on Sunday in the disease-hit Lekharam, Sadabasti in ward 5 of Chhinnamasta Rural Municipality of Saptari district. Over the past ten days three people including two children–a one-year-old boy and a four-year-old girl—and a 70-year-old man succumbed to the deadly disease in the rural municipality. “We didn’t know about the spread of diarrheal infection and deaths until Friday,” said Dipendra Prasad Yadav, health coordinator of the rural municipality. “We have deployed a team of health workers, supplied medicine to the affected village, and carried out rapid diagnostic tests.” According to Yadav, out of nine stool samples tested, three returned positive for cholera. Health workers are preparing to send the samples for further confirmation to the provincial public health laboratory in Dhanusa. Cholera is a highly infectious disease that causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and death within a few hours if left untreated. In Bara and Parsa districts, at least four people have died of cholera and over 1,800 others have been hospitalised since the first week of August. Health authorities resorted to anti-cholera vaccination after all their efforts failed to control the spread of infection. Over one million people from Parsa and some areas of Bara were administered the anti-cholera vaccine. Officials say that everyone above one year of age from all municipalities of Parsa district and six adjoining municipalities in Bara district—the areas hardest hit by the outbreak—were administered with oral cholera vaccine immediately after the Dashain holidays last month. Public health experts say the Birgunj outbreak is the largest since the Jajarkot epidemic in 2009. Sixteen years ago, the far-western district of Jajarkot saw a major cholera outbreak that killed several and infected hundreds. They say the Birgunj outbreak exposes critical gaps in the government’s preparedness and response system, and water and sanitation conditions. Experts are particularly alarmed by both the severity of the outbreak and the deaths it has caused. Nepal often witnesses outbreaks of water- and food-borne diseases, including cholera, during the monsoon season as floodwaters contaminate most of the drinking water sources. Last year, at least 95 cholera cases were confirmed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Jajarkot, Pyuthan, Makawanpur, Rolpa, Sindhupalchok, Achham, and Rautahat districts. The health ministry administered cholera vaccine to people from the affected areas of Kapilvastu, Rautahat, and Kathmandu a few years ago to halt the spread of the disease. Poor sanitation and hygiene make the country highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, and cholera, especially in the monsoon season, according to doctors. They say the risk of waterborne diseases will not decrease until the water and sanitation conditions improve, and people get safe drinking water. Several other factors, including storage conditions, supply pipes, and pollution of water sources, also determine the quality of water supplied to households. The World Health Organisation says cholera is a global threat to public health, and a multifaceted approach is the key to controlling the disease and reducing deaths.

Cholera Outbreak

Nepal Cholera Cases

['cholera', 'outbreak', 'Nepal', 'diarrhea', 'vaccination', 'public health']

-0.8

Negative

['cholera', 'diarrhoea', 'dysentery', 'typhoid', 'hepatitis']

[]

['World Health Organisation']

['Dipendra Prasad Yadav']

['Lekharam', 'Sadabasti', 'Chhinnamasta Rural Municipality', 'Saptari district', 'Bara', 'Parsa', 'Dhanusa', 'Jajarkot', 'Kathmandu', 'Lalitpur', 'Pyuthan', 'Makawanpur', 'Rolpa', 'Sindhupalchok', 'Achham', 'Rautahat', 'Kapilvastu', 'Nepal']

['anti-cholera vaccine', 'oral cholera vaccine']

[]

3,396

5

1

18

0

2

0

{'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral'}

{'Dipendra Prasad Yadav': 'Positive'}

{}

{'World Health Organisation': 0.0}

{'Dipendra Prasad Yadav': 0.7}

{}

Physical

{'cholera': 'addressed', 'diarrhoea': 'addressed', 'dysentery': 'not addressed', 'typhoid': 'not addressed', 'hepatitis': 'not addressed'}

['Lekharam', 'Sadabasti', 'Chhinnamasta Rural Municipality', 'Saptari district', 'Bara', 'Parsa', 'Dhanusa', 'Birgunj', 'Jajarkot', 'Parsa district', 'Kathmandu', 'Lalitpur', 'Pyuthan', 'Makawanpur', 'Rolpa', 'Sindhupalchok', 'Achham', 'Rautahat', 'Kapilvastu']

19

{'Achham': ['cholera'], 'Bara': ['cholera'], 'Jajarkot': ['cholera'], 'Kapilvastu': ['cholera'], 'Kathmandu': ['cholera'], 'Lalitpur': ['cholera'], 'Makwanpur': ['cholera'], 'Parsa': ['cholera'], 'Pyuthan': ['cholera'], 'Rautahat': ['cholera'], 'Rolpa': ['cholera'], 'Saptari': ['cholera', 'diarrhoea'], 'Sindhupalchok': ['cholera']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/10/29/dengue-persists-despite-cooler-temperatures

2025-10-29 20:15:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

Dengue persists despite cooler temperatures

Post Report

2025-10-29

null

Of 30 fever patients, who underwent testing for dengue virus at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital on Wednesday, six tested positive. The hospital administration said that both the number of patients seeking treatment for dengue and the infection positivity rate have risen of late. “Around 20 percent of fever patients seeking care in our hospital have been testing positive for the dengue virus,” said Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula, director at the hospital. “Currently we have patients infected with dengue virus admitted in general wards, cabins and intensive care units.” Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by female Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organisation, the same vector also transmits chikungunya, yellow fever, and the Zika virus. So far, five people have died and 6,668 others infected with dengue virus, which has spread to 75 out of 77 districts of the country. Experts say reported cases likely represent only a fraction of the true scale, as around 90 percent of the infected people are asymptomatic, and many deaths and infections often go unreported. The Health Ministry's data show that 144 people tested positive for the dengue virus in the last one week despite the cooler temperatures. Health officials say that even though both maximum and minimum temperatures have declined, risk of infection from the deadly virus remains throughout the year, as the virus has already become endemic in the country. “We had around 500 dengue positive cases in December last year and January and February of this year,” said Dr Gokarna Dahal, chief of the Vector Control Section at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. “One can get infected with dengue any time in a year. Since dengue became endemic in Nepal years ago, we no longer classify it as an outbreak of a deadly virus.” Experts say even if maximum temperatures have declined, they remain above 15 degree Celsius, which is enough for dengue spreading mosquitoes to survive. Earlier, officials had predicted a spike in cases after Dashain and Tihar festivals as people might become complacent towards the risks. They also warned that outbreaks could occur in camps for people displaced by floods and landslides caused by torrential rainfall in early October. “It seems that the risk of major outbreak or hotspots has lessened this year, due to falling temperature,” said Dahal. Dengue mosquitoes breed in clean water and bite during daytime. Uncovered water tanks and discarded objects such as plastic cups and bottles can serve as breeding grounds. Symptoms of the disease include mild to high fever, severe muscle pain, rashes, severe headache and pain in the eyes, among other things. Doctors advise those with these symptoms to seek immediate treatment. While there is no specific cure for the disease, early detection and access to proper medical care can lower fatalities. Many people infected with dengue show mild symptoms, which do not need any treatment or can be managed with paracetamol at home. Nepal reported its first dengue case in a foreigner in 2004 in Chitwan district. Since then, an increasing number of dengue infections, including major outbreaks, have been reported from many districts. The World Health Organisation says there is no specific cure for severe dengue, but early detection and access to proper medical care can save lives.

Dengue Virus Outbreak

Rising Cases in Nepal

['Dengue Virus', 'Infection Rate', 'Nepal', 'Mosquito-Borne Disease', 'Outbreak', 'Endemic']

0.6

Negative

['dengue virus', 'chikungunya', 'yellow fever', 'Zika virus']

['Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital']

['World Health Organisation', 'Health Ministry', 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division']

['Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula', 'Dr Gokarna Dahal']

['Nepal', 'Chitwan district']

['paracetamol']

[]

3,402

4

2

3

2

0

1

{'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'Health Ministry': 'Neutral', 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula': 'Neutral', 'Dr Gokarna Dahal': 'Neutral'}

{}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'World Health Organisation': 0, 'Health Ministry': 0, 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 0}

{'Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula': 0, 'Dr Gokarna Dahal': 0}

{}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 0.0}

Physical

{'dengue virus': 'addressed', 'chikungunya': 'not addressed', 'yellow fever': 'not addressed', 'Zika virus': 'not addressed'}

['Chitwan district', 'Nepal']

2

{'location_by_disease': {'Kathmandu': ['dengue', 'chikungunya', 'yellow fever', 'Zika virus'], 'Chitwan': ['dengue']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/10/26/underpaid-and-overworked-private-hospital-nurses-demand-pay-parity

2025-10-26 19:53:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

Underpaid and overworked, private hospital nurses demand pay parity

Arjun Poudel

2025-10-26

Kathmandu

Eva [name changed], a staff nurse at a teaching hospital under Bhairahawa-based Universal College of Medical Science, receives only Rs13,000 as basic salary a month. The hospital also provides her additional Rs5,000 allowances in night-duty allowances. “The amount isn't even insufficient to pay my monthly rent. How long can I ask my parents for money for survival,” complained Eva, who does not wish to disclose her real name fearing retribution from the hospital administration. “Some of my colleagues receive even less—between Rs8,000 and Rs10,000. And some fresh graduates are compelled to work without pay.” This is a common refrain among thousands of nurses serving in private hospitals throughout the country, who say they have long been exploited by hospital owners and medical colleges. These nurses have been holding a series of protests against labour exploitation and for salaries on par with their counterparts in state-run health institutions. Since October 21, they have been wearing black arm bands while on duty, and have threatened to shun duties two hours daily—from 10 am to 12 pm starting October 29 if their demands are not met by Monday. “It's been too much. Private hospitals have ignored our just demands and do not even think it necessary to pay us a basic salary equivalent to unskilled labourers,” said Rojita [name changed], a staff nurse, serving at Pokhara-based Gandaki Medical College, who also wished not to be named, as she feared of losing job for speaking out to media. “Despite knowing about our exploitation, no one has taken our issues seriously. Staging protest is not our choice. We don’t have any other option.” Another nurse, Abha [name changed], who has been serving at Manipal College of Medical Sciences for the last 24 years, said she receives only Rs 29,000 a month, including Rs19,000 in basic salary and Rs10,000 in night-duty allowance. “Most of my colleagues don’t get additional pay for night shifts or for exposure to infectious diseases like HIV, hepatitis, and tuberculosis, among others,” she complained. “Many nurses are forced to pay for vaccines for themselves due to exposure to hazardous diseases. Hospitals only provide double masks and double gloves and tell us to handle hazardous cases.” Due to such exploitation, health risks, and low pay, many nurses have quit the profession altogether. Several nurses the Post spoke to said that many of their colleagues have either gone abroad, changed careers, or become homemakers. “One of my friends, a gold medalist from a nursing college in Bangalore [India] who headed an intensive care unit at a renowned hospital [in Nepal], left the profession after six years and joined a humanities college. Her salary was just Rs8,000 when she quit.” The Nepal Nursing Association, which has called the ongoing protests, said it has been struggling for around two decades to ensure equal pay for nurses working in private hospitals and those in state-run health institutions. “We’ve repeatedly drawn the attention of the authorities and signed agreements in the past,” said Professor Chandrakala Sharma, president of Nepal Nursing Association. “This time, our members serving at Manipal College of Medical Sciences started the protest, and our association helped it expand nationwide.” According to Sharma, nurses in private hospitals earn less than one fourth of what their counterparts in state-run health facilities receive. Fresh graduates are often forced to work without pay. “Nurses handle patients with infectious diseases and work in operation theatres, ICUs, and radiology departments, where risk of exposure to infections and radiation is always high,” said Sharma. “But despite all that, they are underpaid.” Last year, the secretary at the Health Ministry issued a circular directing all private hospitals, medical colleges, and community hospitals to pay salaries on par with state-run health facilities. However, almost none of these institutions have complied. “Skilled nurses, who have been engaged in saving the lives of patients deserve proper wages and benefits,” said Roshani Laxmi Tuintuin, former head of the Nursing Division. “Because of exploitation and low pay many nurses have left the profession.” Meanwhile, a committee formed to address the nurses’ demands met on Sunday afternoon to discuss the ongoing protest. A week ago, a 14-members committee was formed to resolve the situation. The committee is tasked with reviewing the circulars and reports relating to the remuneration of nurses and healthcare workers in private and community hospitals/health establishments. It is also tasked to determine necessary agreements and implementation steps to ensure minimum salaries and allowances on par with government scales. Likewise, the committee will also prepare policy recommendations and an action plan for the government and related ministries to address this problem in the long term.

Nurse Exploitation

Low Pay and Health Risks

['nurse exploitation', 'low pay', 'health risks', 'private hospitals', 'state-run health institutions', 'protests', 'Nepal Nursing Association']

-0.8

Negative

['HIV', 'hepatitis', 'tuberculosis']

['Gandaki Medical College', 'Manipal College of Medical Sciences']

['Universal College of Medical Science', 'Nepal Nursing Association', 'Health Ministry']

['Eva', 'Rojita', 'Abha', 'Chandrakala Sharma', 'Roshani Laxmi Tuintuin']

['Bhairahawa', 'Pokhara', 'Nepal', 'Bangalore', 'India']

[]

['circular directing all private hospitals, medical colleges, and community hospitals to pay salaries on par with state-run health facilities']

4,918

3

5

3

5

1

0

2

{'Universal College of Medical Science': 'Negative', 'Nepal Nursing Association': 'Positive', 'Health Ministry': 'Neutral'}

{'Eva': 'Positive', 'Rojita': 'Positive', 'Abha': 'Positive', 'Chandrakala Sharma': 'Positive', 'Roshani Laxmi Tuintuin': 'Positive'}

{'circular directing all private hospitals, medical colleges, and community hospitals to pay salaries on par with state-run health facilities': 'Negative'}

{'Gandaki Medical College': 'Negative', 'Manipal College of Medical Sciences': 'Negative'}

{'Universal College of Medical Science': -0.8, 'Nepal Nursing Association': 0.7, 'Health Ministry': 0.0}

{'Eva': 0.85, 'Rojita': 0.85, 'Abha': 0.85, 'Chandrakala Sharma': 0.8, 'Roshani Laxmi Tuintuin': 0.8}

{'circular directing all private hospitals, medical colleges, and community hospitals to pay salaries on par with state-run health facilities': -0.6}

{'Gandaki Medical College': -0.85, 'Manipal College of Medical Sciences': -0.85}

Both

{'HIV': 'not addressed', 'hepatitis': 'not addressed', 'tuberculosis': 'not addressed'}

[]

0

{'location_by_disease': {'Kaski': ['HIV', 'hepatitis', 'tuberculosis']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/10/12/dengue-has-killed-4-and-infected-5-874-since-january

2025-10-12 20:00:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

Dengue has killed 4 and infected 5,874 since January

Post Report

2025-10-12

Kathmandu

At least four people died and 5,874 others have been infected with dengue virus that has spread to 75 districts of the country since January. Both deaths and infections recorded so far are fewer compared to previous years, but experts say that the risk of a massive outbreak has not subsided, as post monsoon, which is the peak dengue season, has just started. “The risk of a dengue surge is not yet over, as over 12,000 people were infected last October,” said Dr Gokarna Dahal, chief of the Vector Control Section at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. “We urged everyone to take necessary precautions to avoid infections.” Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by female Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organisation, the same vector also transmits chikungunya, yellow fever, and the Zika virus. In 2024, 15 people died, and 41,865 others were infected as the virus spread to 76 districts. In 2023, 88 persons died and more than 54,000 were infected by the virus, which had spread to all 77 districts. At the time, hospitals in Kathmandu Valley were overwhelmed with dengue patients, and pharmacies had run out of paracetamol, the most widely used medicine for treating fever. Experts say reported cases may represent only a small fraction of the true scale of infection, as around 90 percent of the infected people are asymptomatic, and many deaths and infections often go unreported. Many people infected with dengue show only mild symptoms, which do not need any treatment or can be managed with paracetamol at home. Officials say multiple factors may have contributed to fewer cases this year. Continuous awareness drive against the dengue infection since 2022, infection by a single serotype of the virus, and changes in rainfall patterns like continuous rain or halt in rain for a long time, or excessive rainfall, may have washed away the mosquito larvae. Health agencies had conducted awareness campaigns and larvae search and destroy drives for months across the country since the start of the monsoon. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City had deployed its health workers to inspect Singha Durbar, the central secretariat of the federal government for potential dengue mosquito breeding grounds. Health workers had found stagnant water and Aedes mosquito larvae in discarded tyres, plastic cups, bottles, and dumped toilet commodes in almost all offices. “Perceived severity, which means, those who were infected in the past might have taken precaution to avoid infection again also could have contributed positively this time,” said Dahal. “But still the risk is not yet over and vigilance is needed from all to avoid infections.” Doctors say dengue became endemic in Nepal years ago, meaning people get infected throughout the year. Dengue mosquitoes breed in clean water and bite during daytime. Uncovered water tanks and discarded objects such as plastic cups and bottles can serve as breeding grounds. The health ministry had anticipated over 60,000 cases of dengue infection in the worst-case scenario within October, but the number of cases so far remains much lower. Symptoms of the disease include mild to high fever, severe muscle pain, rashes, severe headache and pain in the eyes, among other things. Doctors advise those with these symptoms to seek immediate treatment. While there is no specific cure for the disease, early detection and access to proper medical care can lower fatalities. Nepal reported its first dengue case in a foreigner in 2004 in Chitwan district. Since then, an increasing number of dengue infections, including major outbreaks, have been reported from many districts. The World Health Organisation says there is no specific cure for severe dengue, but early detection and access to proper medical care can save lives.

Dengue Virus Outbreak

Nepal's Dengue Situation

['Dengue Virus', 'Nepal', 'Outbreak', 'Infections', 'Deaths', 'Mosquitoes', 'Aedes aegypti', 'Aedes albopictus', 'Epidemiology', 'Public Health']

0.5

Neutral

['dengue virus', 'chikungunya', 'yellow fever', 'Zika virus']

['hospitals in Kathmandu Valley']

['World Health Organisation', 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City', 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division', 'Health ministry']

['Dr Gokarna Dahal']

['Nepal', 'Kathmandu Valley', 'Chitwan district']

['paracetamol']

[]

3,818

4

1

4

3

0

1

{'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 'Positive', 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 'Positive', 'Health ministry': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Gokarna Dahal': 'Positive'}

{}

{'hospitals in Kathmandu Valley': 'Neutral'}

{'World Health Organisation': 0.0, 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 0.6, 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 0.6, 'Health ministry': 0.0}

{'Dr Gokarna Dahal': 0.7}

{}

{'hospitals in Kathmandu Valley': 0}

Physical

{'dengue virus': 'addressed', 'chikungunya': 'not addressed', 'yellow fever': 'not addressed', 'Zika virus': 'not addressed'}

['Chitwan', 'Kathmandu', 'Singha Durbar', 'Nepal']

4

{'Chitwan': ['dengue'], 'Kathmandu': ['dengue']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/14/22-percent-of-kathmanduites-over-30-are-diabetic

2025-11-14 19:42:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-20

22 percent of Kathmanduites over 30 are diabetic

Post Report

2025-11-14

Kathmandu

As many as 22 percent of Kathmandu residents over 30 have high blood sugar, according to a preliminary report of a random blood sugar test carried out by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City around a year ago. The figure is almost three times the estimated national average of eight percent, which doctors and public health experts say is alarming. Of 19,660 people tested during the study, five percent were newly diagnosed with diabetes, while 14.5 percent said that they already had the disease. Officials also said another 2.4 percent of the population were found not taking medication despite knowing that they have high blood sugar levels. “Though we don’t have data on population-level studies on diabetes, it is clear that the problem has been rising alarmingly in recent years,” said Dr Jyoti Bhattarai, senior endocrinologist. “The rise is seen across all age groups, but what concerns me most is that young people are increasingly affected, and many of whom are not even aware of it.” Diabetes is a non-communicable disease, which develops when blood sugar levels are too high. It occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body does not respond properly to insulin. The World Health Organisation says diabetes can impact people across all life stages, including childhood, the reproductive years, working age and older adulthood. Health officials say that preliminary findings of health screening of the general population above 30 by the city office are alarming. They say health screening was conducted on 26,019 people in December 2024 and January 2025 at 256 locations in the metropolis, including 32 urban health promotion centres. Tests were carried out to check blood pressure levels, diabetes, behavioural risk factors—smoking and alcohol intake—and renal function. “Due to various reasons, we have not yet analysed all the data,” said Dr Dibas Neupane, an official at the Health Department under the city office. “But the preliminary results show alarming rates of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases among Kathmandu residents.” Along with the rise in type-1 and type-2 diabetes in general population experts say problems of new kind of diabetes, which they called mid-point diabetes, have also emerged of late as serious public health concern. Type-1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, in which the body's immune system destroys insulin producing cells in the pancreas. In this condition the body does not make insulin or produces insufficient insulin. Type-2 diabetes is common type diabetes, where the body becomes resistant to insulin or pancreas doesn't make enough insulin. Type-5 diabetes or mid-point diabetes is a recently identified condition related to chronic undernutrition. Doctors say patients appear lean and thin but suffer from insulin deficiency. Doctors say people of all ages could be affected by diabetes. It increases the risk of damage to kidneys, nerves, heart and eyes. Changes in dietary patterns such as increased consumption of processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, and rising stress levels are among the main causes. “Most patients seek treatment when complications arise, which is often too late,” said Dr Dipak Malla, senior endocrinologist at Bir Hospital. “Many people think that problems like diabetes start only in the older age, but the number of young people suffering from diabetes has been rising in recent years.” Lack of physical inactivity, and increasing obesity in children and young people are also contributing to diabetes. “Anyone could develop non-communicable diseases and diabetes. Those who consume processed foods in excess, do not exercise, and are obese are at high risk,” said Malla. “Such people must change their eating habits and start physical exercise. If problems are identified early, complications can be prevented.” Experts recommend launching awareness drives against non-communicable diseases, sedentary lifestyle and eating habits. Non-communicable diseases—hypertension, diabetes, renal disease, liver problems, heart problems, and cervical cancer, among others—have emerged as major killers in recent years, accounting for 73 percent of total deaths worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study conducted by the US-based Institution for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Diabetes

Prevalence in Kathmandu

['high blood sugar', 'diabetes', 'Kathmandu', 'non-communicable disease', 'health screening', 'type-1 diabetes', 'type-2 diabetes', 'mid-point diabetes']

0.8

Negative

['diabetes', 'type-1 diabetes', 'type-2 diabetes', 'type-5 diabetes', 'mid-point diabetes', 'hypertension', 'renal disease', 'liver problems', 'heart problems', 'cervical cancer']

['Bir Hospital']

['Kathmandu Metropolitan City', 'World Health Organisation', 'Institution for Health Metrics and Evaluation']

['Dr Jyoti Bhattarai', 'Dr Dibas Neupane', 'Dr Dipak Malla']

['Kathmandu']

[]

4,319

10

3

1

0

1

{'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'Institution for Health Metrics and Evaluation': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Jyoti Bhattarai': 'Positive', 'Dr Dibas Neupane': 'Positive', 'Dr Dipak Malla': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Bir Hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 0.4, 'World Health Organisation': 0.0, 'Institution for Health Metrics and Evaluation': 0.0}

{'Dr Jyoti Bhattarai': 0.8, 'Dr Dibas Neupane': 0.8, 'Dr Dipak Malla': 0.8}

{}

{'Bir Hospital': 0.0}

Physical

null

['Kathmandu', 'Bir Hospital']

2

{'Kathmandu': ['diabetes', 'hypertension', 'renal disease', 'liver problems', 'heart problems', 'cervical cancer']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/24/hospitals-are-fuelling-antimicrobial-resistance-in-nepal-study-finds

2025-11-25T06:46:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

Hospitals are fuelling superbugs in Nepal, study finds

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-24T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Healthcare facilities, especially major hospitals in Nepal, could be the major reservoirs and amplifiers of antimicrobial resistance, as a new finding shows widespread antibiotics-resistance genes within hospital wastewater infrastructures. The report titled, “Antibiotic Resistance Gene Surveillance in Hospital Wastewater in Nepal”, prepared by BioVac Nepal and Resistomap, a Finland-based research institution that maps antibiotic resistance across the globe, showed the presence of multiple antibiotic-resistance genes in the wastewater. The study assessed the burden and diversity of antibiotic-resistance genes in sewage water from two major Kathmandu Valley hospitals—Patan Hospital and Nepal-Korea Friendship Hospital. DNA was extracted at BioVac Nepal and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) screening was carried out using a 72-gene smart ChipqPC panel at Resistomap, Helsinki, targeting resistance markers, targeting key antibiotics classes—β-lactamases, carbapenem-resistance genes, and tet (tetracycline), sulfonamides, aminoglycosides and others. “Relative abundance profiles consistently detected high concentrations of major resistance gene classes—β-lactamases, carbapenem-resistance genes, tetracycline families, MLSB, and sulfonamide resistance genes,” reads the report. “The detection of these five antimicrobial-resistance gene categories in raw hospital wastewater indicates that healthcare facilities act as major reservoirs and amplifiers of antimicrobial resistance, with the potential to spread resistant organisms into river systems, soil, agriculture, and human communities.” The study was carried out in 2023 over a six-month period. Samples were collected twice per day—morning and evening—for three consecutive days from three buildings at Patan Hospital: the medical and surgical wards, outpatient clinics, and the maternity and obstetric and gynecology ward. “A high diversity of antimicrobial-resistance genes was consistently detected across all wards and all sampling times,” the report stated. “ The presence of multiple resistance classes across all buildings indicates widespread antimicrobial resistance circulation within hospital wastewater infrastructure.” Likewise, samples were collected once a week for 12 weeks at Nepal-Korea Friendship Hospital which also showed stable and persistent detection of a broad panel of antimicrobial resistance genes throughout the 12-week period. Similar to Patan Hospital, dominant antimicrobial-resistance gene categories included β-lactam, tetracycline, MLSB, and sulfonamide resistance genes. “Both hospitals demonstrate significant and sustained ARG loads, highlighting untreated hospital wastewater as an important reservoir for antimicrobial resistance,” reads the report. Hospital waste management is an important, but neglected issue in Kathmandu. Officials said that private health facilities—hospitals, nursing homes, polyclinics, laboratories— and even state-run health facilities discard hazardous medical waste mixing up with household waste. Moreover, none of the hospitals in the country has facilities for treating waste water, which increases the risk of spread of antimicrobial-resistance genes and other infections in the communities, according to experts. “Due to a lack of wastewater treatment facilities in our health institutions, contaminated water flows directly into major rivers and this increases the risk of spreading antimicrobial-resistance genes,” said Dr Dibesh Karmacharya, executive director of Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal, a non-governmental public health research organisation. “Risk of antimicrobial resistance increases if such water is used for drinking and in agriculture.” Antimicrobial resistance has been emerging as a serious public health issue or a ‘silent pandemic’ in Nepal, public health experts say. The problem has reached an alarming level which most people in the country cannot imagine, they warn. Doctors and public health experts in Nepal have long drawn the attention to the irrational use of antibiotics. They say that despite their efforts to raise awareness, rampant use of antibiotics continues. According to experts, agricultural antibiotics contribute to resistant bacteria in meat and poultry products. In addition, resistant organisms are released from farms into soil, groundwater, and surface waterways, contaminating water sources used for crop irrigation and domestic purposes. The World Health Organisation said antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result, the medicines become ineffective and infections persist in the body, increasing the risk of their spread to others.

Antimicrobial Resistance

Hospital Wastewater

['Antibiotic Resistance', 'Hospital Wastewater', 'Antimicrobial Resistance Genes', 'Healthcare Facilities', 'Wastewater Treatment']

-0.7

Negative

['antimicrobial resistance', 'infections']

['Patan Hospital', 'Nepal-Korea Friendship Hospital']

['BioVac Nepal', 'Resistomap', 'Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal', 'World Health Organisation']

['Dr Dibesh Karmacharya']

null

['antibiotics', 'β-lactamases', 'carbapenem-resistance genes', 'tetracycline', 'sulfonamides', 'aminoglycosides']

[]

4,834

42

25

98

null

2

113

53

{'BioVac Nepal': 'Positive', 'Resistomap': 'Positive', 'Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Dibesh Karmacharya': 'Positive'}

{'NoPolicyProvided': 'Neutral'}

{'Patan Hospital': 'Negative', 'Nepal-Korea Friendship Hospital': 'Negative'}

{'BioVac Nepal': 0.65, 'Resistomap': 0.65, 'Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal': 0.55, 'World Health Organisation': 0.0}

{'Dr Dibesh Karmacharya': 0.62}

{'NoPolicyProvided': 0.0}

{'Patan Hospital': -0.78, 'Nepal-Korea Friendship Hospital': -0.78}

Physical

{'antimicrobial resistance': 'not addressed', 'infections': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Kathmandu Valley', 'Helsinki', 'Finland']

52

{'Kathmandu': ['antimicrobial resistance'], 'Lalitpur': ['antimicrobial resistance']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/23/most-patients-reach-hospital-after-taking-multiple-antibiotics

2025-11-23T21:52:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

Most patients reach hospital after taking multiple antibiotics

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-23T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Last week, an 11 year-old girl from the Chabahil area of Kathmandu was rushed to the clinic of Dr Ganesh Rai, former director at the Kanti Children’s Hospital, as the girl was suffering from flu and cough. The girl’s parents said that their child did not recover, despite taking two antibiotics. “A medical doctor visiting a pharmacy near their house prescribed antibiotics within two days of the ailment. When the ailment was not cured, another doctor prescribed another antibiotic," said Dr Rai. “In most cases, flu and coughs get cured within seven to 10 days, and the patients do not need antibiotics. But patients and their relatives do not understand these things.” Antimicrobial resistance has been emerging as a serious public health issue—a ‘silent pandemic’ in the country, public health experts say. The problem has reached an alarming level which most people in the country cannot imagine, according to them. “We have to deal with multiple such cases every day,” said Rai. “If the trend of irrational antibiotic use continues, where doctors prescribe lifesaving drugs without need or proper consultation and pharmacies sell them over the counter—the day is not far when antibiotics may stop working altogether.” When the doctor explained the conditions, under which use of antibiotics actually required, the parents of the ailing child, they persuaded. They regretted using antibiotics without consultation with experts and committed not to make such mistakes in future, according to Rai. Doctors as well as Public health experts in Nepal have been drawing the attention of the general public and authorities concerned to the irrational use of antibiotics for years. They say that despite their efforts to make people aware of the problems, rampant use of antibiotics has been unabated. “The burden of the problems has increased over the years,” said Dr Anup Subedee, an expert on internal medicine and infectious disease expert. “Resistance has developed even to new antibiotics introduced just a few years ago.” While human antibiotic use contributes to antibiotic resistance, the widespread use of antibiotics in agricultural practices—most notably in livestock and poultry production—is also a potential driver. Doctors say agricultural antibiotics contribute to the presence of resistant bacteria in meat and poultry products. In addition, resistant organisms are released from farms into soil, groundwater, and surface waterways, leading to a contamination of water sources used for crop irrigation and domestic purposes. The World Health Organisation said antimicrobial resistance happens when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result, the medicines become ineffective and infections persist in the body, increasing the risk of their spread to others. Antibiotics, despite being prescription drugs, can be easily purchased over the counter in Nepal. Many people buy them without telling the pharmacists their exact problem. Pharmacists too do not bother to inquire and in most cases fail to emphasise the importance of completing the course of medicine, which is among the main reasons for the growing rate of antimicrobial resistance, according to experts. Second, most of the time doctors prescribe antibiotics on the basis of clinical diagnosis, even before they get laboratory test reports. Experts say antibiotics do not work if the underlying infection is caused by a virus. According to a 2021 study of the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), only 32 percent of the doctors and health workers have access to laboratories for antibiotic susceptibility testing. Among them, only 49 percent of doctors recommend antibiotic susceptibility testing before prescribing antibiotics. This means that only 16 percent of doctors recommend antibiotics after susceptibility testing. The study also shows that more than one-third—37.8 percent—of prescribed medicines were antibiotics, which is higher than the World Health Organisation’s standards. The study shows about a fourth (22 percent) of the outpatients did not consume a full course of antibiotics. Similarly, about 10 percent of the outpatients consume antibiotics as prophylaxis (preventive treatment) while eight percent take double-dose antibiotics for a quick recovery. Around 22 percent of them spare residual antibiotics for use in similar symptoms in the future. Additionally, around 28 percent of outpatients said they buy antibiotics without doctors’ or health workers’ prescriptions. The report shows that a significant number of patients do not know that a course of antibiotics must be completed and if they stop halfway, the same antibiotic may not work the next time. The NHRC study showed around 70 percent of farmers used progressively higher doses of antibiotics and more frequently for faster recovery of sick animals or fowls. The study identified big shortcomings in awareness and availability of national guidelines for prescribing antibiotics and infrastructures for recommending antibiotic susceptibility tests among both human and animal health professionals. “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future” is a shared responsibility,” the UN health body in its statement says. “Together, we can keep antimicrobials effective and build a healthier, more sustainable world for the generations to come.”

Antimicrobial Resistance

Irrational Use of Antibiotics

['Antimicrobial Resistance', 'Antibiotics', 'Public Health', 'Infection', 'Disease Spread']

-0.7

Negative

['flu', 'cough', 'antimicrobial resistance', 'infections']

['Kanti Children’s Hospital']

['World Health Organisation', 'Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC)', 'UN']

['Dr Ganesh Rai', 'Dr Anup Subedee']

null

['antibiotics']

['antibiotic susceptibility testing', 'national guidelines for prescribing antibiotics']

5,472

58

36

75

null

88

15

29

{'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC)': 'Neutral', 'UN': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Ganesh Rai': 'Positive', 'Dr Anup Subedee': 'Positive'}

{'antibiotic susceptibility testing': 'Positive', 'national guidelines for prescribing antibiotics': 'Negative'}

{'Kanti Children’s Hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'World Health Organisation': 0.0, 'Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC)': 0.0, 'UN': 0.8}

{'Dr Ganesh Rai': 0.82, 'Dr Anup Subedee': 0.76}

{'antibiotic susceptibility testing': 0.42, 'national guidelines for prescribing antibiotics': -0.53}

{'Kanti Children’s Hospital': 0.0}

Physical

{'flu': 'addressed', 'cough': 'addressed', 'antimicrobial resistance': 'not addressed', 'infections': 'addressed'}

['Kathmandu', 'Chabahil', 'Nepal']

34

{'Kathmandu': ['flu', 'cough']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/21/world-children-s-day-celebrated-through-cricket

2025-11-21T07:31:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

World children’s day celebrated through cricket

Post Report

2025-11-21T00:00:00

Kathmandu

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and the Embassy of Australia, organised a special cricket event at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kritipur on Thursday to mark World Children’s Day 2025. The celebration highlighted the importance of child rights, gender equality and the power of sport to break barriers and inspire social change. Observed globally every year on November 20, World Children’s Day commemorates the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is UNICEF’s annual day of action for children, by children, calling on governments, communities and families to uphold every child’s right to learn, play, be protected and participate in decisions that affect their lives. This year, UNICEF-Nepal celebrated the day through the joint initiative “Leveling the Playing Field”—a partnership between UNICEF, CAN and the Embassy of Australia, that uses the reach and influence of cricket to promote equal opportunities for girls and boys across Nepal and ensure that adolescent girls stay in school, access essential services and participate fully in their communities. The joint event provided a platform to amplify children’s voices and spotlight the challenges many still face — including child marriage, early pregnancy, limited access to education and unequal opportunities for girls, a UNICEF statement said. “All we ask is a fair chance. Let girls learn, let girls choose and let girls lead. When you invest in us today, we can build a better tomorrow for everyone,” said Manushka Rana Magar, a 13-year-old girl studying in grade 7 at Shree Gamvir Samudra Setu Secondary School. More than 300 children participated in the event, which included a friendly cricket match where children played alongside Nepal’s national women’s cricket team. Nepal is home to over three million adolescent girls — future leaders, innovators and change-makers. Yet one in three girls is still married before the age of 18, and more than 15 percent of girls eligible for upper secondary school have dropped out or never enrolled.

World Children's Day

Child Rights and Gender Equality

['Child Rights', 'Gender Equality', "World Children's Day", 'UNICEF', 'Cricket']

0.6

Positive

[]

['United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)', 'Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN)', 'Embassy of Australia']

['Manushka Rana Magar']

null

[]

['Convention on the Rights of the Child']

2,127

2

23

105

null

41

2

{'United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)': 'Positive', 'Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN)': 'Positive', 'Embassy of Australia': 'Positive'}

{'Manushka Rana Magar': 'Positive'}

{'Convention on the Rights of the Child': 'Positive'}

{}

{'United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)': 0.94, 'Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN)': 0.88, 'Embassy of Australia': 0.85}

{'Manushka Rana Magar': 0.92}

{'Convention on the Rights of the Child': 0.92}

{}

Mental

{}

['Nepal', 'Kritipur']

21

{'locations': {}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/21/health-ministry-to-move-to-prefab-office-at-singha-durbar

2025-11-21T07:28:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

Health ministry to move to prefab office at Singha Durbar

Post Report

2025-11-21T00:00:00

Kathmandu

The Ministry of Health and Population is preparing to relocate inside Singha Durbar after the World Health Organisation handed over newly built prefabricated structures to the government. Currently, the ministry has been operating from the Nepal Health Research Council building at Ramshahpath since its own building was destroyed during the Gen Z protest on September 9. “We have started shifting furniture and other materials inside Singha Durbar,” said Dr Prakash Budathoky, spokesperson at the ministry. “From next week we will start working from Singha Durbar.” The youth-led anti-corruption protests on September 9, sparked after the government used brutal force against demonstrators on September 8, completely destroyed the Health Ministry’s building along with crucial and sensitive documents, including bilateral agreements. Seventy-six people were killed in the nationwide protests. The Health Ministry's building was designed by world-renowned American architect Louis I Kahn. International students used to visit the building to study its unique design. The structure built in 1965 was originally constructed for the use of the Family Planning and Maternal Child Welfare programme. It featured two isometric brick blocks, deep vertical window recess and a roof top parapet with sky-framing apertures and is among few architectural jewels of the country. The building endured the 1988 and 2015 mega earthquakes. Protesters during 1979, 1990 and 2005 did not target it. The UN health body, which officially handed over newly constructed structures to the government on Thursday, said that the new facilities would facilitate resumption of critical health governance and administrative functions. Speaking at the structure handover ceremony at Singha Durbar, Dr Catharina Boehme, officer-in-charge of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office, highlighted the importance of strong partnerships and rapid recovery support. She said that the new structure will support the ministry to continue its vital work in health policy formulation, coordination and service delivery. “This facility is far more than a physical structure — it is a symbol of resilience, preparedness, and partnership,” said Boehme. “It restores a functional home for essential health leadership and coordination, ensuring that critical operations can continue without interruption.” Officials at the Health Ministry, who have been working in congested space at the council, said that even the prefab structure will not be sufficient for full-fledged operation of the ministry. “The ministry has to run the entire health governance of the entire country,” said Dr Samir Adhikari, joint spokesperson at the ministry. “But something is better than nothing, so we will resume our work from inside Singha Durbar.” Health officials have been using meeting halls of the Department of Health Services for meetings with delegates due to lack of space in the council’s building. Officials say they have often had to request foreign delegates and development partners to reduce their delegation size because of the congestion at the current office.

Health Ministry

Relocation and Reconstruction

['Ministry of Health and Population', 'World Health Organisation', 'Singha Durbar', 'Health Governance', 'Reconstruction']

0.6

Positive

[]

['Ministry of Health and Population', 'World Health Organisation', 'Nepal Health Research Council', 'UN', 'Department of Health Services']

['Dr Prakash Budathoky', 'Louis I Kahn', 'Dr Catharina Boehme', 'Dr Samir Adhikari']

null

[]

['Family Planning and Maternal Child Welfare programme']

3,118

2

84

138

null

56

2

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive', 'Nepal Health Research Council': 'Neutral', 'UN': 'Positive', 'Department of Health Services': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Prakash Budathoky': 'Positive', 'Louis I Kahn': 'Positive', 'Dr Catharina Boehme': 'Positive', 'Dr Samir Adhikari': 'Neutral'}

{'Family Planning and Maternal Child Welfare programme': 'Neutral'}

{}

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 0.75, 'World Health Organisation': 0.85, 'Nepal Health Research Council': 0.0, 'UN': 0.8, 'Department of Health Services': 0.0}

{'Dr Prakash Budathoky': 0.45, 'Louis I Kahn': 0.75, 'Dr Catharina Boehme': 0.85, 'Dr Samir Adhikari': 0.0}

{'Family Planning and Maternal Child Welfare programme': 0.0}

{}

Physical

{}

['Singha Durbar', 'Ramshahpath', 'Nepal']

41

{'locations': {}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/21/more-children-in-madhesh-and-karnali-infected-with-soil-transmitted-intestinal-worms-report

2025-11-21T07:26:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

More children in Madhesh and Karnali infected with soil-transmitted intestinal worms: Report

Post Report

2025-11-21T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Fifteen to 20 percent of the children between five and 10 years of age from Madhesh and Karnali provinces have been found infected with soil-transmitted intestinal worms, a new report shows. According to a study carried out with financial and technical assistance from the World Health Organisation in April this year, the two provinces have the highest prevalence of soil-transmitted worms, officials say. “Children from other provinces have also been found infected with the soil-transmitted intestinal worms,” said Lila Bikram Thapa, chief of the Nutrition Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “But problems in other provinces are not so severe compared to Karnali and Madhesh provinces.” Soil-transmitted helminth infections, or intestinal parasites, are the most common infections worldwide, from which poor and most vulnerable populations get affected the most. Ascaris lumbricoides, trichuris trichiura and hookworms are the causative agents of the disease, according to the WHO. The diseases are transmitted by consuming contaminated water, uncooked foods and unwashed or unpeeled fruits and vegetables. Adult worms live in the intestine, where they produce thousands of eggs every day. In areas that lack adequate sanitation, these eggs contaminate the soil. Doctors say infected children are nutritionally and physically impaired. Girls and women of reproductive age suffer from anaemia, and blood loss is exacerbated if infected with intestinal worms, which ultimately increases the risk of maternal and infant mortality and low birth weight. Officials said that the study was carried out in 19 districts of all seven provinces, which include districts of all three mountain, hill and Tarai regions. Stool samples were collected from 3,000 grade 3 students across over 90 schools, both public and private. Health officials say that more children have been found infected with roundworms. Some have been found infected with Hymenolepis nana, a kind of intestinal worm. It is more common in children living in poverty and with poor hygiene. Doctors say the risk of transmission of the worms is high in areas where water and sanitation conditions are compromised, people are less aware of hygiene practices and hand washing. Also, those who consume raw vegetables and fruits without washing them properly are at risk of getting infected with intestinal worms. “The report of the study shows that water and sanitation conditions are not much improved in districts of Madhesh and Karnali provinces,” said Thapa. “Concerned authorities still have to do much for the improvement of water and sanitation conditions. Children are not washing their hands before eating, so awareness should be launched for behaviour change.” The government has been launching a nationwide deworming campaign twice a year for children under five years of age. People above five years of age generally do not take medicines unless prescribed by physicians. Officials say that the deworming campaign can be stopped or launched only once a year where reports show no serious problems and continue twice in the areas where serious issues are seen. The UN health body has recommended periodic medical treatment, deworming, health and hygiene education and healthy behaviours.

Intestinal Worms Infection

Soil-transmitted Helminth Infections in Children

['Intestinal Worms', 'Soil-transmitted Helminth Infections', 'Children Health', 'Nutrition Impairment', 'Sanitation Conditions', 'Deworming Campaign']

-0.6

Negative

['soil-transmitted intestinal worms', 'soil-transmitted helminth infections', 'intestinal parasites', 'ascariasis', 'trichuriasis', 'hookworm infection', 'anaemia']

[]

['World Health Organisation', 'Department of Health Services', 'Family Welfare Division', 'UN']

['Lila Bikram Thapa']

null

[]

['deworming campaign']

3,296

164

21

95

null

22

2

{'World Health Organisation': 'Positive', 'Department of Health Services': 'Neutral', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Positive', 'UN': 'Positive'}

{'Lila Bikram Thapa': 'Positive'}

{'deworming campaign': 'Positive'}

{}

{'World Health Organisation': 0.7, 'Department of Health Services': -0.15, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.45, 'UN': 0.55}

{'Lila Bikram Thapa': 0.62}

{'deworming campaign': 0.62}

{}

Physical

{'soil-transmitted intestinal worms': 'addressed', 'soil-transmitted helminth infections': 'addressed', 'intestinal parasites': 'addressed', 'ascariasis': 'addressed', 'trichuriasis': 'addressed', 'hookworm infection': 'addressed', 'anaemia': 'not addressed'}

['Madhesh', 'Karnali', 'Tarai']

31

{ "location_by_disease": {} }

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/18/nepal-to-vaccinate-all-10-year-old-girls-against-hpv-in-february-march

2025-11-19T07:28:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

Nepal to vaccinate all 10-year-old girls against HPV early next year

Post Report

2025-11-18T00:00:00

Kathmandu

All girls aged 10 years of age or those studying in class six will be administered the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in Falgun (mid-February to mid-March) under the routine immunisation schedule. Although the HPV vaccine has been included in the routine immunisation list, officials say that the vaccine will be administered in the month of Falgun every year. “We have estimated that around 350,000 girls are 10 years old,” said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “Health workers will administer the vaccine to those studying in class six in the schools, and others who are 10 years of age and don’t go to schools will also be administered the vaccine from health facilities.” Human papillomavirus is a viral infection that spreads through skin-to-skin contact and is a leading cause of cervical cancer—the second-most common cancer in the developing world. Cervical cancer is a major cause of death among Nepali women, with hundreds diagnosed every year. Although the exact number of patients suffering from cervical cancer in Nepal is not known, it is estimated that every day, at least four women die of the disease. BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Bharatpur said that more than 700 women suffering from cervical cancer seek treatment at the hospital every year. A cervical cancer screening carried out by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City in July this year found 126 women in the city infected with human papilloma virus. Of 2,564 samples tested during the screening, 28 women were found infected with HPV types 16 and 18, which are responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancer. The remaining 98 tested positive for other types of HPV. The testing was carried out in the laboratory of the Bir Hospital and only HPV types 16 and 18 were tested as officials said that neither the city office nor the Bir Hospital had testing kits of other HPV types. Doctors say HPV exists in more than 100 different forms, ranging from low-risk to high-risk infections. HPV types 16 and 18 are frequently associated with invasive cervical cancer compared to other types, meaning that they are more carcinogenic than other types. They say most cases of cervical cancer are associated with HPV. Widespread immunisation could significantly reduce the impact of cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers. Early treatment can prevent up to 80 percent of cervical cancer cases, according to them. The Ministry of Health and Population launched a nationwide HPV drive in February-March this year in which around 1.5 million girls between 11 and 14 were inoculated with a single dose of HPV vaccine. Experts say the HPV vaccine is effective if it is administered before getting sexually active. Efficacy rate on adult women or after getting sexually active is low. The Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI) has supplied required vaccine doses for the campaign. Officials say that the alliance has committed to supply vaccine doses for routine immunisation programmes also. The World Health organisation says HPV vaccination is recommended as part of a coordinated strategy to prevent cervical cancer and other diseases caused by the virus. According to the UN health body, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and claims over 350,000 lives each year.

HPV Vaccine

Cervical Cancer Prevention

['HPV Vaccine', 'Cervical Cancer', 'Immunisation', 'Nepal', "Women's Health"]

0.6

Positive

['Human Papillomavirus (HPV)', 'cervical cancer']

['BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital', 'Bir Hospital']

['Department of Health Services', 'Family Welfare Division', 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City', 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI)', 'World Health Organisation']

['Dr Abhiyan Gautam']

null

['HPV vaccine']

['routine immunisation schedule', 'nationwide HPV drive']

3,379

49

21

175

null

57

15

55

{'Department of Health Services': 'Positive', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Positive', 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 'Positive', 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI)': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Abhiyan Gautam': 'Positive'}

{'routine immunisation schedule': 'Positive', 'nationwide HPV drive': 'Positive'}

{'BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital': 'Positive', 'Bir Hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'Department of Health Services': 0.6, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.6, 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 0.5, 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI)': 0.8, 'World Health Organisation': 0.7}

{'Dr Abhiyan Gautam': 0.62}

{'routine immunisation schedule': 0.92, 'nationwide HPV drive': 0.94}

{'BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital': 0.42, 'Bir Hospital': 0.0}

Physical

{'Human Papillomavirus (HPV)': 'not addressed', 'cervical cancer': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Bharatpur']

22

{'Chitwan': ['cervical cancer'], 'Kathmandu': ['human papillomavirus infection', 'cervical cancer']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/17/kmc-starts-free-pneumonia-shots-for-over-75s-with-health-issues

2025-11-18T08:06:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

KMC offers free pneumonia vaccine to over 75s with underlying health issues

Post Report

2025-11-17T00:00:00

Kathmandu

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has started administering the pneumonia vaccine to elderly residents with underlying conditions, who face heightened risk of lung infection in winter. Officials at the Health Department under the city office said that 1,900 people have already been inoculated and an additional 3,500 will be administered with the vaccine in the coming days. “We have been administering pneumonia vaccines to elderly people above 75 years of age,” said Deepak Kumar KC, chief of the department. “Those above 75 with underlying conditions like cancer, and renal disease, among others, are highly vulnerable to severe pneumonia during the winter season.” Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs caused by various types of bacteria, viruses and fungi, is the leading cause of morbidity in Nepal from which thousands of people from across the country get affected. It is also the number one killer of children under five in the country. It kills more children annually than malaria, tuberculosis and HIV combined. Viruses that cause influenza are highly contagious, which spread quickly in communities and affect the lungs of those who are infected. These diseases can cause fever, cough, body aches, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as pneumonia. If left untreated, they can lead to death. Pneumonia caused by bacteria is even deadlier than that caused by viruses, and children under five and people above 65 years of age are highly vulnerable to the disease, experts say. Officials at the city office say that elderly people, who generally have multiple comorbidities, are highly vulnerable to complications if they suffer from pneumonia. They say many elderly people do not seek pneumonia shots on their own, as the vaccine is costly, and many families don’t think it necessary to purchase vaccines for their vulnerable parents, even if they can afford to do so. “We have been providing Pfizer’s pneumonia vaccine to elderly people, which cost over Rs5000, and the budget for the vaccine is our own [KMC’s],” said KC. Officials say the vaccine is being administered only to residents of the city. Of late, major hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley have reported a surge in influenza cases. Doctors say administering vulnerable populations with pneumonia and updated influenza shots at the time of season change reduces the risk of severe illness and death. They say that multiple respiratory viruses that cause seasonal influenza—A(H1N1), A(H3), influenza B, rhinovirus, and adenovirus—become active during season change and winter and infect thousands of people. Seasonal influenza is also highly contagious. It mainly affects the lungs and quickly spreads in communities. If seasonal influenza is left untreated, it can cause pneumonia, which can be fatal, according to experts. “Decision to administer pneumonia vaccine to elderly population is a very positive one,” said Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, chief of Clinical Research Unit at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital. “Other local governments should follow KMC’s move and administer vulnerable populations with pneumonia vaccines.” Doctors say family members of elderly people should buy influenza and pneumonia vaccines for their parents, as this reduces the risk of severe illness from viral and bacterial infections that can lead to pneumonia. They say elderly people and those with underlying health conditions—heart disease, renal problems, cancer, and diabetes, among others—are particularly vulnerable. The government has included pneumonia vaccine in its routine immunisation list of children and provides it free of cost from state-run health facilities. But elderly people and others have to purchase it (which costs over Rs5,000) themselves if they need to be vaccinated. Public health measures—mask-wearing, handwashing, avoiding crowds, and maintaining social distancing—can reduce infection, doctors say.

Pneumonia Vaccine

Elderly Residents

['pneumonia vaccine', 'elderly residents', 'underlying conditions', 'lung infection', 'winter season']

0.6

Positive

['pneumonia', 'cancer', 'renal disease', 'influenza', 'malaria', 'tuberculosis', 'HIV', 'fever', 'cough', 'body aches', 'vomiting', 'diarrhoea', 'heart disease', 'diabetes']

['Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital']

['Kathmandu Metropolitan City', 'Pfizer']

['Deepak Kumar KC', 'Sher Bahadur Pun']

null

['pneumonia vaccine', 'influenza vaccine']

['routine immunisation list']

3,915

173

39

41

null

29

42

53

{'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 'Positive', 'Pfizer': 'Neutral'}

{'Deepak Kumar KC': 'Positive', 'Sher Bahadur Pun': 'Positive'}

{'routine immunisation list': 'Positive'}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 'Positive'}

{'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 0.9, 'Pfizer': 0.0}

{'Deepak Kumar KC': 0.9, 'Sher Bahadur Pun': 0.9}

{'routine immunisation list': 0.66}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 0.85}

Physical

{'pneumonia': 'addressed', 'cancer': 'not addressed', 'renal disease': 'not addressed', 'influenza': 'addressed', 'malaria': 'not addressed', 'tuberculosis': 'not addressed', 'HIV': 'not addressed', 'fever': 'not addressed', 'cough': 'not addressed', 'body aches': 'not addressed', 'vomiting': 'not addressed', 'diarrhoea': 'not addressed', 'heart disease': 'not addressed', 'diabetes': 'not addressed'}

['Kathmandu', 'Nepal', 'Kathmandu Valley']

42

{'Kathmandu': ['pneumonia', 'influenza']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/16/authorities-mull-ring-vaccination-in-cholera-hit-areas-of-saptari

2025-11-16T19:19:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

Authorities mull ring vaccination in cholera-hit areas of Saptari

Post Report

2025-11-16T00:00:00

Saptari

Health authorities are considering ring vaccination in the cholera-hit ward 5 of Chhinnamasta Rural Municipality and surrounding areas in Saptari district after a month-long outbreak killed three people and infected 98 others. Though a final decision on vaccination has not yet been taken, officials say infections have not stopped completely and the potentially deadly disease has spread to new areas instead. “People are still getting infected with diarrheal ailments in the cholera hit areas,” said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “Although no decision has been taken to vaccinate the vulnerable population in the disease-hit areas, it seems that without vaccination it will be difficult to contain the outbreak.” Two children and an elderly man died from the cholera outbreak nearly a month ago. Officials in the disease-hit rural municipality said 13 diarrhoeal patients tested positive for cholera in rapid diagnostic tests carried out in the village, and laboratory tests of stool samples from five patients confirmed Vibrio cholerae 01 Ogawa serotype. Three new diarrheal patients were hospitalised on Saturday. “People are still falling ill even after weeks of efforts to containment efforts,” Bidyananda Chaudhary, chairman of the rural municipality, told the Post over the phone from Saptari. “The disease has now spread to another Dalit settlement.” Chaudhary said he visited Kathmandu and submitted a memorandum to the Minister for Health and Population Sudha Gautam requesting federal support to contain the outbreak. “Doctors as well as experts we consulted have said that without vaccination, it will be difficult to contain the spread.” Officials said that water and sanitation conditions in the affected Dalit settlements of Musahar and Paswan suffer from extremely poor water and sanitation conditions, and added that changing hygiene practices in the area cannot happen overnight. Cholera is a highly infectious disease that causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and death within a few hours if left untreated. In Bara and Parsa districts, at least four people have died of cholera and over 1,800 others have been hospitalised since the first week of August. Authorities resorted to anti-cholera vaccination after all their efforts failed to control the spread of infection. Over one million people from Parsa and some areas of Bara were administered the anti-cholera vaccine. Officials said everyone above one year of age in all municipalities of Parsa district and six adjoining municipalities in Bara district—the areas hardest hit by the outbreak—were administered the oral cholera vaccine immediately after the Dashai holidays last month. Public health experts say the Birgunj outbreak is the largest since the Jajarkot epidemic in 2009. They say the Birgunj outbreak exposes critical gaps in the government’s preparedness and response system, and water and sanitation conditions. Nepal often witnesses outbreaks of water- and food-borne diseases, including cholera, during the monsoon season as floodwaters contaminate most of the drinking water sources. Last year, at least 95 cholera cases were confirmed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Jajarkot, Pyuthan, Makawanpur, Rolpa, Sindhupalchok, Achham, and Rautahat districts. The health ministry previously administered cholera vaccine to people from the affected areas of Kapilvastu, Rautahat, and Kathmandu a few years ago to halt the spread. Poor sanitation and hygiene make the country highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, and cholera, especially in the monsoon season, according to doctors. They say the risk of waterborne diseases will not decrease until the water and sanitation conditions improve, and people get safe drinking water. Several other factors, including storage conditions, supply pipes, and pollution of water sources, also determine the quality of water supplied to households. The World Health Organisation says cholera is a global threat to public health, and a multifaceted approach is the key to controlling the disease and reducing deaths.

Cholera Outbreak

Vaccination Efforts

['Cholera', 'Vaccination', 'Outbreak', 'Waterborne Disease', 'Sanitation', 'Hygiene']

-0.7

Negative

['cholera', 'diarrheal ailments', 'diarrhea', 'dysentery', 'typhoid', 'hepatitis']

[]

['Department of Health Services', 'Family Welfare Division', 'World Health Organisation']

['Dr Abhiyan Gautam', 'Bidyananda Chaudhary', 'Sudha Gautam']

null

['anti-cholera vaccine', 'oral cholera vaccine']

[]

4,212

82

61

89

null

2

48

2

{'Department of Health Services': 'Negative', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Abhiyan Gautam': 'Positive', 'Bidyananda Chaudhary': 'Positive', 'Sudha Gautam': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Department of Health Services': -0.2, 'Family Welfare Division': 0, 'World Health Organisation': 0.3}

{'Dr Abhiyan Gautam': 0.6, 'Bidyananda Chaudhary': 0.6, 'Sudha Gautam': 0.5}

{}

Physical

{'cholera': 'addressed', 'diarrheal ailments': 'not addressed', 'diarrhea': 'not addressed', 'dysentery': 'not addressed', 'typhoid': 'not addressed', 'hepatitis': 'not addressed'}

['Chhinnamasta Rural Municipality', 'Saptari district', 'Kathmandu', 'Lalitpur', 'Jajarkot', 'Pyuthan', 'Makawanpur', 'Rolpa', 'Sindhupalchok', 'Achham', 'Rautahat', 'Bara', 'Parsa', 'Musahar', 'Paswan', 'Birgunj', 'Kapilvastu', 'Nepal']

237

{'location_by_disease': {'Saptari': ['cholera', 'diarrhoea'], 'Bara': ['cholera'], 'Parsa': ['cholera'], 'Kathmandu': ['cholera'], 'Lalitpur': ['cholera'], 'Jajarkot': ['cholera'], 'Pyuthan': ['cholera'], 'Makawanpur': ['cholera'], 'Rolpa': ['cholera'], 'Sindhupalchok': ['cholera'], 'Achham': ['cholera'], 'Rautahat': ['cholera'], 'Kapilvastu': ['cholera']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/14/22-percent-of-kathmanduites-over-30-are-diabetic

2025-11-14T19:42:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

22 percent of Kathmanduites over 30 are diabetic

Post Report

2025-11-14T00:00:00

Kathmandu

As many as 22 percent of Kathmandu residents over 30 have high blood sugar, according to a preliminary report of a random blood sugar test carried out by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City around a year ago. The figure is almost three times the estimated national average of eight percent, which doctors and public health experts say is alarming. Of 19,660 people tested during the study, five percent were newly diagnosed with diabetes, while 14.5 percent said that they already had the disease. Officials also said another 2.4 percent of the population were found not taking medication despite knowing that they have high blood sugar levels. “Though we don’t have data on population-level studies on diabetes, it is clear that the problem has been rising alarmingly in recent years,” said Dr Jyoti Bhattarai, senior endocrinologist. “The rise is seen across all age groups, but what concerns me most is that young people are increasingly affected, and many of whom are not even aware of it.” Diabetes is a non-communicable disease, which develops when blood sugar levels are too high. It occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body does not respond properly to insulin. The World Health Organisation says diabetes can impact people across all life stages, including childhood, the reproductive years, working age and older adulthood. Health officials say that preliminary findings of health screening of the general population above 30 by the city office are alarming. They say health screening was conducted on 26,019 people in December 2024 and January 2025 at 256 locations in the metropolis, including 32 urban health promotion centres. Tests were carried out to check blood pressure levels, diabetes, behavioural risk factors—smoking and alcohol intake—and renal function. “Due to various reasons, we have not yet analysed all the data,” said Dr Dibas Neupane, an official at the Health Department under the city office. “But the preliminary results show alarming rates of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases among Kathmandu residents.” Along with the rise in type-1 and type-2 diabetes in general population experts say problems of new kind of diabetes, which they called mid-point diabetes, have also emerged of late as serious public health concern. Type-1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, in which the body's immune system destroys insulin producing cells in the pancreas. In this condition the body does not make insulin or produces insufficient insulin. Type-2 diabetes is common type diabetes, where the body becomes resistant to insulin or pancreas doesn't make enough insulin. Type-5 diabetes or mid-point diabetes is a recently identified condition related to chronic undernutrition. Doctors say patients appear lean and thin but suffer from insulin deficiency. Doctors say people of all ages could be affected by diabetes. It increases the risk of damage to kidneys, nerves, heart and eyes. Changes in dietary patterns such as increased consumption of processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, and rising stress levels are among the main causes. “Most patients seek treatment when complications arise, which is often too late,” said Dr Dipak Malla, senior endocrinologist at Bir Hospital. “Many people think that problems like diabetes start only in the older age, but the number of young people suffering from diabetes has been rising in recent years.” Lack of physical inactivity, and increasing obesity in children and young people are also contributing to diabetes. “Anyone could develop non-communicable diseases and diabetes. Those who consume processed foods in excess, do not exercise, and are obese are at high risk,” said Malla. “Such people must change their eating habits and start physical exercise. If problems are identified early, complications can be prevented.” Experts recommend launching awareness drives against non-communicable diseases, sedentary lifestyle and eating habits. Non-communicable diseases—hypertension, diabetes, renal disease, liver problems, heart problems, and cervical cancer, among others—have emerged as major killers in recent years, accounting for 73 percent of total deaths worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study conducted by the US-based Institution for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Health

Diabetes

['Diabetes', 'High Blood Sugar', 'Non-Communicable Disease', 'Kathmandu Residents', 'Health Screening']

-0.7

Negative

['diabetes', 'hypertension', 'renal disease', 'liver problems', 'heart problems', 'cervical cancer', 'type-1 diabetes', 'type-2 diabetes', 'type-5 diabetes', 'mid-point diabetes']

['Bir Hospital']

['Kathmandu Metropolitan City', 'World Health Organisation', 'Institution for Health Metrics and Evaluation']

['Dr Jyoti Bhattarai', 'Dr Dibas Neupane', 'Dr Dipak Malla']

null

[]

4,319

179

60

109

null

2

16

{'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'Institution for Health Metrics and Evaluation': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Jyoti Bhattarai': 'Positive', 'Dr Dibas Neupane': 'Positive', 'Dr Dipak Malla': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Bir Hospital': 'Positive'}

{'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 0.3, 'World Health Organisation': 0.0, 'Institution for Health Metrics and Evaluation': 0.0}

{'Dr Jyoti Bhattarai': 0.78, 'Dr Dibas Neupane': 0.71, 'Dr Dipak Malla': 0.84}

{}

{'Bir Hospital': 0.45}

Physical

{'diabetes': 'addressed', 'hypertension': 'not addressed', 'renal disease': 'not addressed', 'liver problems': 'not addressed', 'heart problems': 'not addressed', 'cervical cancer': 'not addressed', 'type-1 diabetes': 'addressed', 'type-2 diabetes': 'addressed', 'type-5 diabetes': 'not addressed', 'mid-point diabetes': 'not addressed'}

['Kathmandu']

13

{'Kathmandu': ['diabetes', 'hypertension', 'renal disease', 'liver problems', 'heart problems', 'cervical cancer']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/13/time-to-rethink-blanket-vitamin-and-nutritional-campaigns-experts-say

2025-11-13T18:36:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

Time to rethink blanket vitamin and nutritional campaigns, experts say

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-13T00:00:00

Kathmandu

The Micronutrient Survey carried out in 2016 had shown moderate levels of vitamin A deficiency in Nepal. It has been almost a decade since the government started nationwide vitamin A supplementation drives twice a year. Had the planned micronutrient survey not been suspended indefinitely, Nepal would not have needed to launch a nationwide high-dose vitamin A campaign, which costs over Rs100 million every year. Officials say the World Health Organisation also does not recommend a high-dose vitamin A campaign if two consecutive nationwide micronutrient surveys show only moderate levels of deficiency. “The UN health body recommends prioritising and strengthening routine programmes and targeted responses in high-risk areas and groups if problems were found to be moderate in two studies,” said Lila Bikram Thapa, chief of Nutrition Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “We have to continue the high-dose vitamin A supplementation programme, as we are unaware of the latest vitamin A deficiency situation in our population.” Along with the vitamin A supplementation programme, several other health initiatives—including high-dose iodine fortification of salt, and supplementation with iron, acid and zinc, and other nutrition programmes—have been continuing for decades. Health officials say that due to the lack of latest and credible data from independent institutions, the government is compelled to continue those programmes without knowing the current magnitude of the public health problems they are meant to address. “The micronutrition study survey, which was planned for April-May, has been suspended indefinitely due to a suspension of the budget by the USAID,” said Thapa. “All necessary preparations—including selection of an independent agency for study, ethical approval from the concerned agencies, and training for enumerators—had been completed, but the study could not happen due to the budget freeze.” Health experts say that many health issues may no longer require nationwide or blanket programmes, as such approaches cost huge amounts of money and can even have negative effects on public health. The fortification of salt with iodine beyond WHO recommendations is one such programme that experts say needs reassessment. Nepalis have been using salt with 50ppm (parts per million) of iodine per kilo, which is higher than the recommended level. The UN health body recommends iodine concentration in salt between 15 and 40 ppm per kilo. The higher iodine level was mandated in the 1990s under the assumption that transport and storage times were longer, as salt had to be carried on the backs of men and animals, and some iodine would dissipate before reaching the market. However, with roads now reaching almost all corners of the country, transport times have reduced considerably, and there is no longer a need for such a high level of iodine in salt, according to doctors. Several studies—including the 2016 Nepal National Micronutrient Status Survey jointly carried out by the WHO, UNICEF, the US-based Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Ministry of Health and Population—have found that over two thirds—68 percent—of the population across Nepal consumes iodine in excess of the recommended level. Doctors suspect use of excessive levels of iodine in salt could be among the reasons for the rise in several non-communicable diseases including hypertension and hypothyroidism, renal problems and others. The Global Burden of Disease 2021 showed that non-communicable diseases are responsible for 73 percent of total deaths, and the ratio could be even higher now, experts say. “We had planned to decide whether to lower iodine content in salt after reviewing new findings from the micronutrient survey,” said Thapa. “Without strong evidence, a new decision that affects the entire population cannot be taken.” Public health experts say they doubt if several ongoing healthcare programmes—including the nationwide vitamin campaigns twice a year, high levels of iodine fortification in salt, and iron-folic acid supplementation for all—are still necessary. “Due to improved dietary habits, increase in family income, not all children may need vitamin A supplementation,” said Dr Yasho Vardan Pradhan, former director general at the Department of Health Services. “It has been years since goiter problems vanished from the country. So, we may no longer need such high doses of iodine fortification.” An indefinite halt in health surveys and data collection has left the country in the dark about updated health indicators and has hindered efforts to track progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets, experts warn. SDGs, a follow-up on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), aim to end poverty and hunger and all forms of inequality in the world by 2030, and Nepal has committed to meeting the goals. They say time has come to start a serious discussion about the need and effectiveness of several ongoing health programmes. They also warn that continuing such programmes without assessment and review does not yield desired results and only wastes resources and time. “A huge budget is required to carry out large-scale studies by independent and credible agencies,” said Thapa. “We neither have our own budget for such a study nor have we found any agency willing to fund it.”

Public Health

Nutrition and Micronutrient Survey

['Vitamin A deficiency', 'Iodine fortification', 'Micronutrient survey', 'Public health problems', 'Nutrition programmes']

-0.6

Negative

['Vitamin A deficiency', 'Hypertension', 'Hypothyroidism', 'Renal problems']

[]

['World Health Organisation', 'UNICEF', 'US-based Centres for Disease Control and Prevention', 'Ministry of Health and Population', 'USAID']

['Lila Bikram Thapa', 'Yasho Vardan Pradhan']

null

['Vitamin A', 'Iodine', 'Iron', 'Folic acid', 'Zinc', 'Acid']

['Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)', 'Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)']

5,387

76

45

140

null

79

61

2

{'World Health Organisation': 'Positive', 'UNICEF': 'Positive', 'US-based Centres for Disease Control and Prevention': 'Positive', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Neutral', 'USAID': 'Negative'}

{'Lila Bikram Thapa': 'Neutral', 'Yasho Vardan Pradhan': 'Neutral'}

{'Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)': 'Positive', 'Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)': 'Neutral'}

{}

{'World Health Organisation': 0.45, 'UNICEF': 0.35, 'US-based Centres for Disease Control and Prevention': 0.4, 'Ministry of Health and Population': 0, 'USAID': -0.65}

{'Lila Bikram Thapa': 0.0, 'Yasho Vardan Pradhan': 0.0}

{'Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)': 0.66, 'Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)': 0.0}

{}

Physical

{'Vitamin A deficiency': 'addressed', 'Hypertension': 'not addressed', 'Hypothyroidism': 'not addressed', 'Renal problems': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal']

9

{ "location_by_disease": {} }

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/13/minimum-service-standard-of-health-facilities-to-be-assessed

2025-11-13T07:24:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

Minimum service standard of health facilities to be assessed

Post Report

2025-11-13T00:00:00

Kathmandu

In a bid to improve the quality of healthcare services being provided to the patients, the Ministry of Health and Population has been preparing to assess minimum service standards of the state-run health facilities. For that, a two-day training has been imparted to 36 health officials including doctors of six provinces except officials from Madhesh Province. “Services being provided by health facilities need to be assessed on a regular basis to find the gap,” said Dr Phadindra Prasad Baral, chief of the Mental Health Section at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. “Trained health workers will not only be mobilised for assessment but will also provide training to health workers serving under the provincial government and local units, so that they can assess service quality of health facilities of their respective jurisdiction.” Minimum service standards for hospitals are the service readiness and availability of tools for optimal requirements of hospitals to ensure minimum services. The concept was readied in 2014 with the technical and financial support of the Nick Simons Institute, according to officials. They say that around 300 checklists have been prepared for the assessment. Governance and management part weighed 20 percent, clinical service management part weighed 60 percent and hospital service support service weighed 20 percent. Several hospitals including Lagankhel-based Nepal Mental Hospital and Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital scored less than 50 percent in the assessment carried out in the past. Officials say that minimum service standard score for hospitals measures existing situations and enables them to identify the gap areas to be addressed. It helps to develop action plans, technical and financial inputs and managerial commitments. “We will not only check if the hospitals have met the service quality and other requirements, but also provide support including financial support to address the shortcomings,” said Baral. “The Ministry of Health and Population and Nick Simons Institute have allocated a budget for this programme.” Officials say that during inspection, they will monitor hospital equipment, manpower, hospital waste management, power back-up, availability of drinking water, operation theatres and emergency wards, among others. Meanwhile, the Public Health Office, Kathmandu said that only 12 percent of the state-run health facility buildings in the district run by local governments met required construction standards. None of the health facilities run by local units in the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Kirtipur Municipality, Tokha Municipality and Gokarneshwor Municipality meet construction standards. Four health facilities each of Tarakeshwor Municipality and Kageshwori Manohara Municipality meet construction standards. Likewise, only two health facilities each of Shankarapur Municipality, Budhanilkantha Municipality and Nagarjun Municipality meet the standards. The health office has not carried out inspection of the construction standard of the private health facilities operating in the district but past study shows that over 95 percent hospitals have been operating from residential buildings. Those health facilities operating in the rented residential buildings neither have proper patient safety measures nor are equipped to withstand disasters like earthquake and fire. Officials say that they are aware that buildings that are currently being used by private hospitals were built many years ago and do not meet the basic criteria as they aren’t equipped with emergency entry and exit points, fire escapes, and waiting areas, among others. Owners of the private hospitals had committed to shift to safer structures within six years in 2013 but they are yet to do so.

Healthcare

Hospital Assessment

['healthcare services', 'hospital assessment', 'minimum service standards', 'health facilities', 'service quality']

0.2

Neutral

[]

['Nepal Mental Hospital', 'Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital']

['Ministry of Health and Population', 'Nick Simons Institute', 'Public Health Office']

['Phadindra Prasad Baral']

null

[]

3,761

2

26

86

null

2

60

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Positive', 'Nick Simons Institute': 'Positive', 'Public Health Office': 'Neutral'}

{'Phadindra Prasad Baral': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Nepal Mental Hospital': 'Negative', 'Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital': 'Negative'}

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 0.73, 'Nick Simons Institute': 0.62, 'Public Health Office': 0.0}

{'Phadindra Prasad Baral': 0.7}

{}

{'Nepal Mental Hospital': -0.66, 'Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital': -0.66}

Physical

{}

['Madhesh Province', 'Kathmandu', 'Kirtipur Municipality', 'Tokha Municipality', 'Gokarneshwor Municipality', 'Tarakeshwor Municipality', 'Kageshwori Manohara Municipality', 'Shankarapur Municipality', 'Budhanilkantha Municipality', 'Nagarjun Municipality']

257

{'locations': {}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/12/sickle-cell-patients-in-surkhet-battle-disease-and-poverty

2025-11-13T07:16:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

Sickle cell patients in Surkhet battle disease and poverty

Tripti Shahi

2025-11-12T00:00:00

Birendranagar

Every month, 43-year-old Prem Bahadur Chaudhary from ward 10 of Birendranagar Municipality, Surkhet, makes a tiring journey to Nepalgunj in Lumbini province just to buy the medicines that keep him alive. A patient of sickle cell anaemia since 2016, Prem says he has never found consistent access to treatment in Birendranagar, the provincial capital of Karnali. “There are hospitals everywhere in Birendranagar, but none provide the medicines I need,” Prem complained. “Since my diagnosis, I’ve been travelling to Nepalgunj for checkups and medicines. The travel and lodging cost more than the medicines themselves.” The problem is not his alone. All patients diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia in Surkhet must travel to Bheri Hospital in Nepalgunj—the only major public facility in western Nepal that provides comprehensive treatment for the disease. The monthly health checkups are mandatory for patients, but the financial and physical strain of travelling is punishing. “The medicines cost about Rs2,000 a month, but we spend over Rs5,000 just to reach Nepalgunj for consultations, buy medicines and manage travel and other expenses,” said Bimala Chaudhary, another patient from Birendranagar. “We lose two days travelling, and sometimes we face dismissive attitudes in hospitals there. If medicines were available here, we could save money and our dignity.” Locals say the lack of treatment facilities in Karnali exposes deep inequities in the province’s health system. “Patients are not only battling the disease—they are also carrying a mental and financial burden,” said Prem, calling on provincial authorities to ensure that the Karnali Provincial Hospital provides both treatment and medicines. According to Dila Bahadur Chaudhary, chair of the Sickle Cell Community Hospital and Research Centre in Surkhet, the problem reflects the government’s neglect of a disease that disproportionately affects the Tharu community. “Sickle cell anaemia is slowly affecting generations of Tharus, but the authorities continue to treat it as a minor issue,” he said. “If the government ensures diagnosis cards and subsidised medicine in Surkhet, it would greatly relieve the poor Tharu families.” For many families, the cost is unbearable. Ram Krishna Tharu, a resident of Kalimati in ward 9 of Birendranagar Municipality, said his entire family suffers from sickle cell anaemia. “We have to travel to Nepalgunj again and again,” he said. “I’ve already sold a piece of land to cover medical expenses.” Although once believed to be confined to the Tharu population in the Tarai, cases have spread to Tharu families settled in Surkhet and other hill districts of Karnali. “In our latest survey, we found a sharp rise in infections in Surkhet,” said Dr Surendra Chaudhary, a researcher on sickle cell anaemia. According to Chaudhary, tests conducted in 2023 found 70 positive cases among 737 people screened in Surkhet. Another survey in 2024 found 18 infections among 201 individuals. “If we expand testing, we will definitely find more cases,” he said. As per the 2021 National Census, Surkhet has a Tharu population of around 9,000, but only a small portion has been tested. Local leaders say inadequate screening has left many undiagnosed. Public Health Inspector Kiran Sharma at the Karnali Province Health Directorate said the provincial government has allocated Rs10 million this fiscal year to treat 12 complex diseases, including sickle cell anaemia. “We plan to use the budget to support patients of sickle cell anaemia,” he said. This hereditary condition, in which a patient’s red blood cells become stiff and abnormally ‘sickle or crescent-shaped’, is a major health threat for Tharus living in the southern plains. A person with sickle cell disease can live a long life with timely diagnosis, regular checkups, and the adoption of a healthy way of life. But if ignored, the condition can be fatal.

Healthcare

Access to treatment

['sickle cell anaemia', 'healthcare access', 'treatment facilities', 'Tharu community', 'Karnali province']

-0.8

Negative

['sickle cell anaemia']

['Bheri Hospital', 'Karnali Provincial Hospital', 'Sickle Cell Community Hospital and Research Centre']

['Karnali Province Health Directorate']

['Prem Bahadur Chaudhary', 'Bimala Chaudhary', 'Dila Bahadur Chaudhary', 'Ram Krishna Tharu', 'Dr Surendra Chaudhary', 'Kiran Sharma']

null

[]

3,904

23

134

39

null

2

103

{'Karnali Province Health Directorate': 'Positive'}

{'Prem Bahadur Chaudhary': 'Positive', 'Bimala Chaudhary': 'Positive', 'Dila Bahadur Chaudhary': 'Positive', 'Ram Krishna Tharu': 'Positive', 'Dr Surendra Chaudhary': 'Positive', 'Kiran Sharma': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Bheri Hospital': 'Negative', 'Karnali Provincial Hospital': 'Negative', 'Sickle Cell Community Hospital and Research Centre': 'Positive'}

{'Karnali Province Health Directorate': 0.75}

{'Prem Bahadur Chaudhary': 0.82, 'Bimala Chaudhary': 0.76, 'Dila Bahadur Chaudhary': 0.78, 'Ram Krishna Tharu': 0.71, 'Dr Surendra Chaudhary': 0.65, 'Kiran Sharma': 0.68}

{}

{'Bheri Hospital': -0.45, 'Karnali Provincial Hospital': -0.65, 'Sickle Cell Community Hospital and Research Centre': 0.72}

Physical

{'sickle cell anaemia': 'addressed'}

['Birendranagar', 'Surkhet', 'Nepalgunj', 'Lumbini', 'Karnali', 'Tarai', 'Tharu']

81

{'Banke': ['sickle cell anaemia', 'sickle cell disease'], 'Surkhet': ['sickle cell anaemia', 'sickle cell disease']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/11/je-claims-34-lives-76-percent-of-victims-above-40-years

2025-11-11T19:48:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

JE claims 34 lives, 76 percent of victims above 40 years

Post Report

2025-11-11T00:00:00

Kathmandu

As many as 34 people died and 175 others were infected with the Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus that has spread to 117 local units of 45 districts of Nepal since June. The number of deaths, death rate, and infections are at their highest in recent years, which immunisation experts say is alarming. “One third death, one third disability and one third cure is a thing of the past,” said Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, former director general at the Department of Health Services. “High mortality and morbidity rate indicates not only rapid surge in the deadly virus but also serious problems in the quality of healthcare services.” JE is a viral brain infection, endemic to Asia and parts of the Western Pacific. According to the World Health Organisation, it is a mosquito-borne flavivirus belonging to the same family as dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and West Nile viruses. The virus kills a third of those who fall ill and leaves up to a half of those who survive with severe life-long disabilities, according to the UN health body. Last year, 23 people succumbed to JE, including one in Kathmandu Valley, and over 80 people were infected. New data from the Immunisation Section of the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services shows that the majority—76 percent of JE related deaths occurred in people above 40 years of age. The deadly virus first appeared in eastern Nepal in June and gradually spread to the western parts of the country. Of the 45 affected districts, 23 are hill districts. Lumbini province reported 11 JE deaths and 55 infections, the highest in the country, followed by Gandaki province with five deaths and 34 infections, and Bagmati province with eight deaths and 24 infections. Similarly, Koshi province reported four deaths and 23 infections, Madhesh province three deaths and 17 infections, Sudurpaschim province two deaths and 15 infections, and Karnali province one death and seven infections. The number of reported cases could be just the tip of the iceberg, as tests are usually carried out only on hospitalised patients with severe conditions, officials say. Seventy percent of lab-confirmed JE cases have been detected in those above 15 years of age. Doctors say complications from JE infection could cause permanent injuries to the brain and the nervous system. As there is no specific cure, treatment focuses on managing symptoms. However, safe and effective vaccines have been developed to prevent infection. Health officials said that their attempts to persuade development partners, including the World Health Organisation, to support a mass JE vaccination campaign have not succeeded in the past year. “Discussions were ongoing to inoculate vulnerable populations with JE vaccine in the past,” an official at the Health Ministry said, asking not to be named, as he is not authorised to speak to the media. “But after the devastation caused by Gen Z protests and change in the government leadership, neither any discussion nor progress has been made in this issue.” The youth-led anti-corruption protests on September 8 and 9 caused unprecedented damage to public and private property in Nepal and forced out the KP Oli-led coalition government. Seventy-six people, mostly youths, were killed. Public health experts say the current interim government must prioritise vaccination for vulnerable populations if it cannot inoculate everyone at once. “Saving the lives is the primary duty of any government,” said Upreti. “Pig farmers and those involved in agriculture have been especially affected and should be prioritised for vaccination.” In 2005, JE killed nearly 2,000 people in Nepal—mostly children in districts in the southern plains. Nepal started administering the vaccine in 2006, eight years before the World Health Organisation officially issued prequalification certification, due to high rates of infection and deaths from the virus at the time. In the first phase, all populations of the highly affected four districts—Banke, Bardiya, Dang, and Kailali—were vaccinated. Later, the programme was expanded to 19 other affected districts, targeting children under 15. The government integrated the JE vaccine into routine immunisation in 2015. Even then, people continue to die, and dozens get infected every year. The JE virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Culex mosquitoes. Pigs and ducks are considered natural reservoirs of the virus. Doctors advise avoiding mosquito bites, such as by using mosquito repellents, wearing long-sleeved clothes, and getting vaccinated if one lives in or travels to disease-endemic areas. They also stress the importance of awareness and timely treatment to prevent infections and deaths. An estimated 12.5 million people are thought to be at high risk of JE infection in Nepal.

Japanese Encephalitis Outbreak

Vaccination and Healthcare

['Japanese Encephalitis', 'Vaccination', 'Healthcare', 'Nepal', 'Outbreak', 'Mosquito-borne']

-0.8

Negative

['Japanese encephalitis', 'dengue', 'Zika', 'yellow fever', 'West Nile viruses']

[]

['World Health Organisation', 'Department of Health Services', 'Family Welfare Division', 'Health Ministry']

['Dr Shyam Raj Upreti', 'KP Oli']

null

['JE vaccine']

[]

4,804

80

33

108

null

2

14

2

{'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'Department of Health Services': 'Negative', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Neutral', 'Health Ministry': 'Negative'}

{'Dr Shyam Raj Upreti': 'Positive', 'KP Oli': 'Negative'}

{}

{'World Health Organisation': 0, 'Department of Health Services': -0.7, 'Family Welfare Division': 0, 'Health Ministry': -0.6}

{'Dr Shyam Raj Upreti': 0.78, 'KP Oli': -0.62}

{}

Physical

{'Japanese encephalitis': 'addressed', 'dengue': 'not addressed', 'Zika': 'not addressed', 'yellow fever': 'not addressed', 'West Nile viruses': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Kathmandu Valley', 'Lumbini province', 'Gandaki province', 'Bagmati province', 'Koshi province', 'Madhesh province', 'Sudurpaschim province', 'Karnali province', 'Asia', 'Western Pacific', 'Banke', 'Bardiya', 'Dang', 'Kailali']

238

{'Banke': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Bardiya': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Dang': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Kailali': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Kathmandu': ['Japanese encephalitis']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/10/air-turn-toxic-as-authorities-look-the-other-way

2025-11-11T10:26:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

Air turns toxic, as authorities look the other way

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-10T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Open burning has become a daily concern for Dinesh Lal Shrestha, a resident of Tarakeshwar Municipality in the northwestern rim of Kathmandu Valley, and his morning-walk companions. With the start of the dry season, stubble and waste burning in the open, which has become rampant around the Kathmandu Valley, has again become a big factor behind deteriorating air quality. “One can see thick plumes of smoke at multiple locations within a small area,” complained Shrestha, who is from ward 5 of the municipality. “Along with open burnings, pollution layers can be seen in the skyline in the morning, which means air quality in the Valley is worsening. I wonder why the authorities are not taking measures to prevent this.” After every harvest, farmers often burn stubble and other agricultural waste to prepare fields for new crops. Along with this, burning other types of waste also contributes to the deterioration of air quality. According to the air quality data of IQAir, a Swiss group that collects air quality data from around the world, air quality of various places of the Kathmandu Valley have reached unhealthy levels for sensitive groups. The air quality of Kritipur reached 138 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3) on Monday afternoon. Gausala, Kathmandu recorded 137 micrograms per cubic metre followed by Chhetrapati area 133, Ramkot 130, Tarakeshwar 120, and Thapathali 119 micrograms per cubic metre. The western Nepal town of Dhangadhi recorded 142 micrograms per cubic metre. PM2.5 refers to particulate matter (solid or liquid droplets) in the air that is less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. It is among the most dangerous pollutants that can get past the nose and throat to penetrate the lungs and even the bloodstream. PM2.5 particles are small and are also likely to stay suspended in the air for a long time, increasing the chances of people inhaling them. The PM2.5 concentration recorded on Monday is many times higher than the World Health Organisation’s annual guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic metre. By comparison, Indian capital New Delhi has been ranked as the world’s most polluted city, with an air quality index of 451 on Monday followed by Lahore, Pakistan, at 392. “Me and my morning walk companions ask people not to burn, when we see them setting fires,” said Shrestha. “But most people ignore our request. Local authorities can launch awareness drives, and take preventive measures, including fines, to prevent open burning practices, but they are doing nothing,” On Sunday, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City issued a public notice asking people not to burn waste. The Environment Department of the city office has also warned that violators could be fined up to Rs10,000. “We will send our [municipal] police immediately if we are informed about open burning,” said Sarita Rai, chief of the department. “But we all know that our initiative alone is not sufficient to keep the air of the Valley clean. Smoke from open burning in other local bodies also pollutes the air of the entire Kathmandu Valley.” When asked if the city office is coordinating with other local bodies in the Valley to tackle open burning and air pollution, Rai said that each municipality operates independently and manages things within its own jurisdiction. Elected members of Tarakeshwar Municipality claimed that they are unaware of open burning within the municipality and said burning of stubble to clear the agriculture fields should not be seen as a big issue. “We have some agricultural lands and farmers in our municipality,” said Shambhu Prasad Phuyal, chair of ward-5 of the municipality.“Farmers burn agricultural waste during cultivation, which is common practice. We have issued a notice prohibiting burning of hazardous waste.” Hazardous air pollution poses significant health and economic challenges for Nepal. According to the World Bank report, air pollution shortens the average life expectancy of Nepal’s residents by more than three years, and leads to almost 26,000 premature deaths each year. Beyond health impacts, poor air quality leads to reduced labor productivity and negatively impacts tourism (lower visibility of the Himalayas and cancelled flights). Overall, poor air quality is estimated to cost the equivalent of more than six percent of Nepal’s gross domestic product (GDP) each year. Several studies carried out in the past in Nepal also showed that toxic air takes a huge toll on public health and cuts short people’s lives. Nepali lives are being cut short by around five years, according to a report by the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), which converts air pollution concentration into an impact on life expectancy. AQLI is a metric produced by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. Air quality experts say that without local governments taking initiatives to prevent open burning and other measures, improvement of air quality is almost impossible.They say that through awareness drives and other preventive measures, local authorities can bring the behaviour of waste burning. “Along with the burning of agricultural waste, people also burn hazardous waste materials,” said Bhupendra Das, an air quality and clean energy specialist. “And such practice is not limited to any particular place but common all over the country.” Experts stress the need for coordination among local units to reduce emissions including from waste burning and other sources, including factories and vehicles. Air pollution has emerged as the number one risk factor for death and disability in Nepal, surpassing malnutrition and tobacco use, according to the World Bank.

Air Pollution

Open Burning

['Open Burning', 'Air Quality', 'PM2.5', 'Kathmandu Valley', 'Health Impacts']

-0.8

Negative

[]

['IQAir', 'World Health Organisation', 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City', 'Environment Department', 'World Bank', 'Energy Policy Institute', 'University of Chicago']

['Dinesh Lal Shrestha', 'Sarita Rai', 'Shambhu Prasad Phuyal', 'Bhupendra Das']

null

[]

5,624

2

79

161

null

2

{'IQAir': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 'Negative', 'Environment Department': 'Neutral', 'World Bank': 'Neutral', 'Energy Policy Institute': 'Neutral', 'University of Chicago': 'Neutral'}

{'Dinesh Lal Shrestha': 'Positive', 'Sarita Rai': 'Positive', 'Shambhu Prasad Phuyal': 'Neutral', 'Bhupendra Das': 'Positive'}

{}

{'IQAir': 0.0, 'World Health Organisation': 0.0, 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': -0.3, 'Environment Department': 0.0, 'World Bank': 0.0, 'Energy Policy Institute': 0.0, 'University of Chicago': 0.0}

{'Dinesh Lal Shrestha': 0.85, 'Sarita Rai': 0.8, 'Shambhu Prasad Phuyal': 0.05, 'Bhupendra Das': 0.75}

{}

Physical

{}

['Kathmandu Valley', 'Tarakeshwar Municipality', 'Kritipur', 'Gausala', 'Kathmandu', 'Chhetrapati', 'Ramkot', 'Tarakeshwar', 'Thapathali', 'Dhangadhi', 'Nepal', 'New Delhi', 'Lahore', 'Pakistan', 'Himalayas']

208

{'locations': {}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/09/how-nepal-s-data-reshaped-global-vaccine-policy

2025-11-09T21:55:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

How Nepal’s data reshaped global vaccine policy

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-09T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Until 2005, Nepal had to rely on evidence from studies on childhood illnesses carried out in foreign countries. However, with the generation of homegrown data from 2005 through collaboration between Patan Hospital and the Oxford Vaccine Group, the country not only introduced new vaccines in its routine childhood vaccine list and saved hundreds of lives, but also helped reshape the global vaccine policy. And it has already been 20 years of collaboration. Over these years, the partnership between the hospital and the group has shaped the recommendations of the World Health Organisation-Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (WHO-SAGE) on Immunisation regarding vaccine schedule flexibility and typhoid vaccine rollout. Moreover, it has generated crucial evidence for understanding childhood illnesses. “First we studied meningitis, sepsis, pneumonia, among other disease burdens, in Nepali children in our hospital,” said Dr Srijana Shrestha, professor of paediatrics at Patan Academy of Health Sciences. “The study helped us generate local evidence on disease burden, present the scientific findings to the government and international community and influence national as well as global vaccine schedules.” At that time, meningitis, sepsis and pneumonia were among the deadliest childhood diseases in Nepal, killing scores of children every year. Meningitis is the inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord, which is associated with high risk of death and long-term complications. Similarly, sepsis is also a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Nepal from which children and newborns have been much affected. Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of infant mortality, according to doctors. Pneumonia, an infection of lungs caused by various types of bacteria, viruses and fungi, is the number one killer of children under five in Nepal. It kills more children annually than malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV combined. In 2015, Nepal included pneumonia vaccine on the regular immunisation list to prevent under-five mortality, and became one of the first countries in Southeast Asia to do so. Shrestha said that at that time, three types of pneumonia vaccines (PCV-7, 10 and 13) were available that protected against 7, 10 and 13 serotypes of the pathogen, respectively. Child health experts in the country and experts from aid agencies wanted to use PCV-13. But PCV-13 comes in single dose vials only and if it was chosen, there would be the issue of vaccine storage. “The results of the study carried out in our hospital showed that the PCV-10 vaccine that comes in multi-dose vials, covers most of the pathogens responsible for pneumonia in our country,” said Shrestha. “We passed the information to the government that helped to take the decision to include PCV-10 in the routine immunisation list.” Likewise, Nepal introduced pneumococcal conjugate vaccine using a unique 2+1 PCV schedule, with primary doses at six weeks, 10 weeks and a booster shot at nine months of age. The government’s decision was guided by evidence from the study conducted at Patan Hospital. The study showed that a 2+1 PCV schedule generated a strong immunogenic response, and that a four-week interval between doses was safe and effective, and this was as effective as the WHO standard schedule. The World Health Organisation-Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation acknowledged the study's report and recommended vaccine schedule flexibility that the gap between the two doses can be shortened to four weeks. Many countries across the globe follow the 2+1 schedule at present, according to doctors. Along with this, the hospital also carried out human trials of the typhoid vaccine on 20,000 children seeking treatment at Patan Hospital in collaboration with Oxford Vaccine Group. Typhoid fever, usually called typhoid, is a highly contagious disease caused by Salmonella typhi, which spreads through contaminated food or water. Studies have shown that the disease can be fatal in up to 10 percent of the reported cases. Typhoid fever is found throughout the world but the problem is acute in the areas where safe drinking water and sanitation is a problem. Nepal has also recorded major typhoid outbreaks in the past, but very few cases have been reported in the past few years. In 2022, Nepal introduced typhoid vaccine into its regular immunisation list and launched a nationwide campaign during which around seven million children under 15 years of age were inoculated. Doctors say evidence generated in Nepal supported the funding decision of the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI) and the UN health body’s recommendations for global rollout of the typhoid conjugate vaccine. “Without Nepal’s data, typhoid vaccine would not have scaled globally,” said Shrestha. “Data generated by our country provided critical evidence that became a cornerstone in formulating policies for saving lives.” Experts say Patan Hospital’s collaboration with Oxford Vaccine Group shows high-level research is possible in low-resource settings like Nepal, if long term investments are made, health facilities are strengthened and trained human resources are ensured.

Vaccine Development

Childhood Vaccines

['Vaccine Policy', 'Childhood Illnesses', 'Pneumonia', 'Meningitis', 'Sepsis', 'Typhoid Fever', 'Immunisation']

0.8

Positive

['meningitis', 'sepsis', 'pneumonia', 'malaria', 'tuberculosis', 'HIV', 'typhoid fever', 'neonatal sepsis']

['Patan Hospital']

['Oxford Vaccine Group', 'World Health Organisation', 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI)', 'UN', 'Patan Academy of Health Sciences']

['Dr Srijana Shrestha']

null

['pneumonia vaccine', 'PCV-7', 'PCV-10', 'PCV-13', 'pneumococcal conjugate vaccine', 'typhoid conjugate vaccine']

['global vaccine policy', 'WHO standard schedule', 'vaccine schedule flexibility']

5,192

107

23

150

null

82

113

18

{'Oxford Vaccine Group': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive', 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI)': 'Positive', 'UN': 'Positive', 'Patan Academy of Health Sciences': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Srijana Shrestha': 'Positive'}

{'global vaccine policy': 'Positive', 'WHO standard schedule': 'Positive', 'vaccine schedule flexibility': 'Positive'}

{'Patan Hospital': 'Positive'}

{'Oxford Vaccine Group': 0.9, 'World Health Organisation': 0.85, 'Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI)': 0.8, 'UN': 0.75, 'Patan Academy of Health Sciences': 0.9}

{'Dr Srijana Shrestha': 0.93}

{'global vaccine policy': 0.92, 'WHO standard schedule': 0.78, 'vaccine schedule flexibility': 0.86}

{'Patan Hospital': 0.96}

Physical

{'meningitis': 'not addressed', 'sepsis': 'not addressed', 'pneumonia': 'not addressed', 'malaria': 'not addressed', 'tuberculosis': 'not addressed', 'HIV': 'not addressed', 'typhoid fever': 'not addressed', 'neonatal sepsis': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Southeast Asia']

27

{'location_by_disease': {'Lalitpur': ['meningitis', 'sepsis', 'pneumonia', 'typhoid fever']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/07/life-saving-anti-rabies-vaccine-in-short-supply-across-nepal

2025-11-07T16:29:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

Life-saving anti-rabies vaccine in short supply across Nepal

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-07T00:00:00

Kathmandu

A few months ago, a woman in her early 30s from outside the Kathmandu Valley was rushed to Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital after she exhibited rabies symptoms. Her husband told doctors that he had taken her wife to nearby health facilities for an anti-rabies vaccine after a dog bite, but the facility lacked an anti-rabies vaccine at the time. “I didn’t have money to buy the anti-rabies vaccine from a private pharmacy, and neither hospital nor private pharmacies warned me about the fatal risks if the vaccine is not administered immediately,” a doctor at the hospital quoted the victim’s husband as saying. “I am a daily wage labourer and would have done anything to save my wife.” Rabies is 100 percent preventable if the anti-rabies vaccine is administered on time, but if clinical symptoms start appearing, the disease is always fatal. The woman died in the course of treatment. For months, dog bite victims have complained about being deprived of the rabies vaccine in state-run health facilities. Health officials at the Ministry of Health and Population, however, have repeatedly denied any shortage of the vaccine at health facilities, even though victims are forced to pay for the vaccine themselves. When the Post inquired with officials from provincial health agencies about the stock of anti-rabies vaccine, they admitted there was a critical shortage. “We received only 3,300 doses of rabies vaccine from the federal government,” said Nelson Mahat, information officer at the Health Logistics Management Centre of Bagmati province. “The doses are insufficient even for a month. We have to supply the vaccine to health facilities in 13 districts, and demand is especially high in Chitwan and other districts. Change in vaccine protocol has also increased demand.” Officials at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division acknowledged the low stock. “Yes, we do not have much stock of rabies vaccine,” said Dr Chandra Bhal Jha, director at the division on Wednesday. “We are in the process of purchasing more, and Rs190 million has been allocated to purchase the vaccine this fiscal year.” Jha admitted that shortages could occur in health facilities, as the procurement process takes months. Doctors warn of increased deaths from rabies infection if victims do not get free vaccines. They say that most victims cannot afford to pay for the vaccine, and free administration is the only way to save lives. “If victims are deprived of the vaccine in state-run health facilities, it causes psychological distress to them and their family,” said Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, chief of Clinical Research Unit at Sukraraj Hospital. “Deaths from rabies could also spike if the availability is not ensured on time.” Rabies is a deadly viral disease that spreads through the saliva of infected animals, especially dogs and jackals. Dog bites are responsible for almost all rabies deaths in Nepal. Nepal aims to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies by 2030, a target the World Health Organisation set. However, the Health Ministry’s data show that dogbite cases have been rising every year. Over 60,000 people seek rabies vaccines at state-run health facilities every year. Every day, around 400 people come to Sukraraj Hospital for the vaccine, while thousands more seek treatment at private centres. It is estimated that over 100 people die of rabies every year throughout the country. Doctors say not all dog bite incidents appear on record or all victims seek treatment, which is a challenge to preventing rabies deaths and a major obstacle to meeting the goal of eliminating dog-transmitted rabies by 2030. Rabies, according to the World Health Organisation, kills 59,000 people globally every year, one person every nine minutes, mostly children and the poor. The disease, while fatal, is 100 percent preventable if there is access to vaccines and life-saving treatment after dog bites.

Rabies Outbreak

Vaccine Shortage in Nepal

['Rabies', 'Vaccine Shortage', 'Nepal', 'Dog Bites', 'Public Health']

-0.8

Negative

['rabies']

['Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital']

['Ministry of Health and Population', 'Health Logistics Management Centre', 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division', 'World Health Organisation']

['Nelson Mahat', 'Dr Chandra Bhal Jha', 'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun']

null

['anti-rabies vaccine']

['vaccine protocol']

3,906

10

62

149

null

20

23

53

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Negative', 'Health Logistics Management Centre': 'Neutral', 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral'}

{'Nelson Mahat': 'Neutral', 'Dr Chandra Bhal Jha': 'Neutral', 'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun': 'Neutral'}

{'vaccine protocol': 'Negative'}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'Ministry of Health and Population': -0.75, 'Health Logistics Management Centre': 0, 'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 0, 'World Health Organisation': 0}

{'Nelson Mahat': 0.0, 'Dr Chandra Bhal Jha': 0.0, 'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun': 0.0}

{'vaccine protocol': -0.32}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 0.0}

Physical

{'rabies': 'addressed'}

['Kathmandu Valley', 'Chitwan', 'Nepal', 'Bagmati province']

60

{'Chitwan': ['rabies'], 'Kathmandu': ['rabies']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/06/nationwide-vitamin-a-and-deworming-campaign-begins

2025-11-06T17:39:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

Nationwide Vitamin A and deworming campaign begins

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-06T00:00:00

Kathmandu

A two-day nationwide vitamin and deworming campaign has started on Thursday. Around 2.2 million children between six to 59 months will be given vitamin A. Of them around 1.9 million children between one to five years will also receive deworming tablets during the campaign. Around 54,000 female community health volunteers have been deployed nationwide for the purpose. The health ministry has been conducting the campaign twice a year—in April and in November—since 2003. “We have already supplied vitamin A and deworming tablets to all local units throughout the country,” said Lila Bikram Thapa, chief of Nutrition Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “Female community health volunteers have been mobilised to give the supplement and deworming tablets to the children.” Officials say that vitamin A supplementation and a deworming tablet administration campaigns are crucial in preventing many childhood diseases and reducing mortality among children under five. It is because of supplementation campaigns like these that night blindness among children, which used to be very high until two decades ago, has been almost eliminated, according to Thapa. Vitamin A deficiency is estimated to contribute to nearly one-fourth of global child mortality from measles, diarrhoea and malaria. The campaign is regarded as a public health success story in Nepal, as it has helped address vitamin A deficiency among children, which used to be a major concern in the country. Regular supplementation campaigns are estimated to have reduced deaths among children under five by 23 percent. Deworming tablets are crucial in preventing many childhood diseases and in reducing child mortality, according to child health experts. The vitamin A supplementations and the deworming campaign had coverage rates of over 94 percent, the highest among all health campaigns run in the country in the past. Child health experts say that vitamin A supplementation campaigns are important for children's overall growth and for protecting them from various infectious diseases. According to the World Health Organisation, vitamin A deficiency causes visual impairment (night blindness) and vulnerability to illnesses like measles and diarrhoea among children. The supplement boosts immunity and ensures children’s natural growth.

Health Campaign

Vitamin and Deworming

['Vitamin A', 'Deworming Tablets', 'Childhood Diseases', 'Mortality Rate', 'Public Health']

0.8

Positive

['measles', 'diarrhoea', 'malaria', 'night blindness']

[]

['World Health Organisation', 'Department of Health Services', 'Family Welfare Division', 'Health Ministry']

['Lila Bikram Thapa']

null

['vitamin A', 'deworming tablets']

[]

2,346

54

21

108

null

2

34

2

{'World Health Organisation': 'Positive', 'Department of Health Services': 'Positive', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Positive', 'Health Ministry': 'Positive'}

{'Lila Bikram Thapa': 'Positive'}

{}

{'World Health Organisation': 0.88, 'Department of Health Services': 0.92, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.92, 'Health Ministry': 0.9}

{'Lila Bikram Thapa': 0.82}

{}

Physical

{'measles': 'not addressed', 'diarrhoea': 'not addressed', 'malaria': 'not addressed', 'night blindness': 'addressed'}

['Nepal']

9

{ "location_by_disease": {} }

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/06/health-facilities-across-the-country-without-birth-control-shots-for-months

2025-11-06T06:59:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

Health facilities across the country without birth control shots for months

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-06T00:00:00

Kathmandu

There are only 200 Depo-Provera, a birth control shot, and 350 intrauterine devices, also a birth control means which health workers insert into the uterus, in the store of the Health Logistics Management Centre of Bagmati Province. These doses of contraception are in stock only because officials kept them despite high demand from health facilities in the province. “We have been unable to supply Depo-Provera, intrauterine devices (IUD) to health facilities for months due to the lack of those means in stock,” said Nelson Mahat, information officer at the centre. “Demands for means of family planning, especially Depo-Provera and intrauterine devices (IUD), from health facilities are high but we have no stocks to supply. Very few doses have been kept in stock for emergency use.” Besides, health facilities of Bagmati Province and other provinces across the country also have been without implants and other means of family planning since the start of 2025. The reason behind the short supply of these essential items is blamed on the failure of federal government agencies to purchase them for around two years, the appreciation of the US dollar against the Nepali rupee and inadequate funding. Suspension of USAID since the start of the year is another major reason for the short supply, according to officials. Depo-Provera is a popular and widely used contraceptive in Nepal. It is a birth control shot that has the hormone progestin, which often stops the ovaries from releasing eggs. The IUD is a small, T-shaped device placed in a woman’s womb. It provides contraceptive protection for up to 10 years and can be removed any time. IUD is also a popular means of contraception in Nepal. “We have not been able to purchase Depo-Provera, IUD, implants and other means of family planning due to price and other issues for a long time,” said Dr Pawan Jung Rayamajhi, director at the management division of the Department of Health Services. “The purchase of those commodities is still in process and it is taking time.” Officials admit that the shortage of family planning means for a long time leads to a rise in unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. In Nepal, nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended, and close to two-thirds of them end in abortion, according to a report by the UNFPA. The UNFPA’s ‘State of World Population 2022’ report, titled “Seeing the Unseen”, says half of the 1.2 million pregnancies in 2017 in Nepal were unintended, and nearly 359,000 ended in abortion. The report stated that the toll of unintended pregnancies is—and has long been—unseen. “Although we can estimate healthcare costs, monitor school dropout rates and project levels of workforce attrition due to unintended pregnancies, these only scratch the surface,” the report says. “No number could adequately represent the loss of life, agency and human capital that result from unintended pregnancies.” Every year, around 100,000 women undergo abortions in Nepal at legally authorised clinics and health facilities. Gynaecologists, however, say the actual number of abortions could be several times the government figure, as many abortions, especially medical ones, go unreported. The National Demographic Health Survey-2022 shows that 21 percent of currently married women in Nepal have an unmet need for family planning services. Health ministry officials blame inadequate funding, rise in the dollar price, and suspension of USAID for the shortage of family planning means. “The government has a commitment to provide contraceptives including birth control shots, IUD and implants free of cost but its own budget is limited,” said Sharmila Dahal, chief of the Family Planning and Reproductive Health Section of the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “We need Rs540 million for family planning programmes but we get only around 100 million as the budget was raised from Rs60 million last year.” Officials said that the United Nations Population Fund-supplied Depo-Provera and other means have just arrived in the country, which will be supplied to the health facilities at the earliest. They said that the demand for the contraceptives including birth control shots in the state-run health facilities has risen after the USAID funding to private organisations was suspended in January.

Healthcare

Family Planning

['Depo-Provera', 'intrauterine devices', 'IUD', 'birth control', 'family planning', 'unintended pregnancies', 'unsafe abortions']

-0.7

Negative

[]

['Health Logistics Management Centre of Bagmati Province', 'USAID', 'UNFPA', 'Department of Health Services', 'Family Welfare Division']

['Nelson Mahat', 'Dr Pawan Jung Rayamajhi', 'Sharmila Dahal']

null

['Depo-Provera', 'intrauterine devices (IUD)', 'implants']

[]

4,323

2

61

136

null

2

58

2

{'Health Logistics Management Centre of Bagmati Province': 'Neutral', 'USAID': 'Negative', 'UNFPA': 'Positive', 'Department of Health Services': 'Negative', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Neutral'}

{'Nelson Mahat': 'Neutral', 'Dr Pawan Jung Rayamajhi': 'Neutral', 'Sharmila Dahal': 'Neutral'}

{}

{'Health Logistics Management Centre of Bagmati Province': -0.15, 'USAID': -0.75, 'UNFPA': 0.65, 'Department of Health Services': -0.45, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.1}

{'Nelson Mahat': 0.0, 'Dr Pawan Jung Rayamajhi': 0.0, 'Sharmila Dahal': 0.0}

{}

Physical

{}

['Nepal', 'Bagmati Province']

29

{'location_by_disease': {}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/04/flu-and-fever-cases-are-rising-as-temperatures-dip

2025-11-04T18:05:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

Flu and fever cases are rising as temperatures dip

Post Report

2025-11-04T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Amid a change in season and a decline in temperatures, the number of people suffering from flu-like illnesses has started surging in major hospitals across the country. Doctors attending patients say they expect a further surge in influenza cases as winter progresses. “Cases of flu and fever have started to rise in our hospital,” said Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula, director at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital. “Along with a rise in the cases of fever and flu, demand for flu shots has also spiked of late.” Every year, during season changes and winter, thousands of people from across the country get infected with influenza viruses, which become more active in the cold season. The National Public Health Laboratory, which carries out regular influenza surveillance, said cases of influenza started to rise from September. The laboratory’s own data shows that the positivity rate of the influenza virus is around 16 percent. However, combined data, which includes figures from provincial public health laboratories and other influenza surveillance sites show over a 35 percent positivity rate. “Influenza cases surge twice a year, in February-March and in October-Novermber,” said Dr Ranjan Raj Bhatta, director at the laboratory. “One should not worry too much about the rise in influenza cases, as this happens on a regular basis, not only in our country but also elsewhere.” Doctors however, say that elderly people, small children and those having underlying health conditions—heart disease, renal problems, cancer, diabetes, among others—are vulnerable to getting severe. “Those with underlying health conditions who can afford the influenza vaccine should get inoculated on time,” said Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, a virologist and the chief of Clinical Research Unit at Sukraraj Hospital. “We don’t know who will get infected and develop severe symptoms, so it’s better to take precaution early.” Seasonal influenza caused by regular viruses—A(H1N1), A (H3), influenza B (victoria) and some others, whose lineages have not been subtyped yet—are responsible for the current surge. Doctors say seasonal influenza is also highly contagious. It mainly affects the lungs and quickly spreads in communities. They warn that if seasonal influenza is left untreated, it can cause pneumonia, which can be fatal. Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs caused by various types of bacteria, viruses and fungi, is the leading cause of death among children under five in Nepal. It kills more children annually than malaria, tuberculosis and HIV combined. According to the World Health Organisation, pneumonia accounts for 15 percent of under-five mortality. Doctors say pneumonia caused by bacteria is deadlier than that caused by viruses, and children under five and people above 65 years of age are highly vulnerable to the disease. Its symptoms include fever, cough, body aches, and in some cases, vomiting and diarrhoea. Thousands of people across the country contract pneumonia every year. Back in 2018, the average cost of hospitalisation for pneumonia was Rs13,250, nearly half the average monthly household expenditure in Nepal, according to a study by Pneumo Nepal, whose report was published in 2020. The study—which was carried out at Patan Hospital, Kanti Children's Hospital, Mission Hospital in Palpa, Bheri Hospital in Nepalgunj, and BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences—showed that unexpected medical costs often push families into poverty. “We recommend comorbid children to administer with updated influenza vaccines, which protects them from getting severe,” said Dr Srijana Shrestha, professor of pediatric at Patan Academy of Health Sciences. “Parents of small children must take precautions to protect their wards from cold and flu.” Experts say early diagnosis is crucial for preventing infection and complications. Patients recover quicker if treated promptly. However, the severity of the disease and deaths increase if seasonal influenza cases are not diagnosed on time. Public health measures—mask-wearing, handwashing, avoiding crowds, and maintaining social distancing—can reduce infection, doctors say.

Influenza Surge

Seasonal Flu Cases

['influenza', 'flu', 'seasonal influenza', 'pneumonia', 'vaccination', 'public health']

0

Neutral

['flu-like illnesses', 'influenza', 'fever', 'heart disease', 'renal problems', 'cancer', 'diabetes', 'pneumonia', 'malaria', 'tuberculosis', 'HIV']

['Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital', 'Patan Hospital', "Kanti Children's Hospital", 'Mission Hospital', 'Bheri Hospital', 'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences']

['National Public Health Laboratory', 'Pneumo Nepal', 'Patan Academy of Health Sciences', 'World Health Organisation']

['Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula', 'Dr Ranjan Raj Bhatta', 'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun', 'Dr Srijana Shrestha']

null

['influenza vaccine', 'flu shots']

[]

4,142

148

95

118

null

2

34

181

{'National Public Health Laboratory': 'Positive', 'Pneumo Nepal': 'Neutral', 'Patan Academy of Health Sciences': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula': 'Positive', 'Dr Ranjan Raj Bhatta': 'Positive', 'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun': 'Positive', 'Dr Srijana Shrestha': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 'Positive', 'Patan Hospital': 'Neutral', "Kanti Children's Hospital": 'Neutral', 'Mission Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Bheri Hospital': 'Neutral', 'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences': 'Neutral'}

{'National Public Health Laboratory': 0.45, 'Pneumo Nepal': 0.0, 'Patan Academy of Health Sciences': 0.6, 'World Health Organisation': 0.0}

{'Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula': 0.9, 'Dr Ranjan Raj Bhatta': 0.8, 'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun': 0.85, 'Dr Srijana Shrestha': 0.9}

{}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 0.38, 'Patan Hospital': 0, "Kanti Children's Hospital": 0, 'Mission Hospital': 0, 'Bheri Hospital': 0, 'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences': 0}

Physical

{'flu-like illnesses': 'not addressed', 'influenza': 'not addressed', 'fever': 'not addressed', 'heart disease': 'not addressed', 'renal problems': 'not addressed', 'cancer': 'not addressed', 'diabetes': 'not addressed', 'pneumonia': 'addressed', 'malaria': 'not addressed', 'tuberculosis': 'not addressed', 'HIV': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal']

9

{'location_by_disease': {'Kathmandu': ['influenza', 'pneumonia'], 'Lalitpur': ['pneumonia'], 'Palpa': ['pneumonia'], 'Banke': ['pneumonia'], 'Sunsari': ['pneumonia']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/03/a-million-children-from-health-data-go-missing

2025-11-04T06:41:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-25T00:00:00

A million children go ‘missing’ from health data

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-03T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Until around two years ago, 3.2 million under-five children were estimated to be eligible for Vitamin A supplementation and deworming tablets. Health authorities used to supply the tablets through nationwide campaigns at health facilities across the country. However, the national census report unveiled by the National Statistic Office two years ago revised the number of targeted children to around 2.2 million. Public health experts are concerned as coverage rates for most health programmes including immunisation and Vitamin A supplementation were 85 to over 90 percent in the past, and stayed similarly high even after the decline in the target population. “Data on children is not based on our own estimation but derived from the population census,” said Lila Bikram Thapa, chief of the Nutrition Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “The number of children has declined due to the decline in overall fertility.” The Ministry of Health and Population launches a nationwide Vitamin A supplementation and deworming campaign twice every year. This year’s campaign will be held on Thursday and Friday (November 6-7). During the campaign, around 2.2 million children from six months to 59 months will get Vitamin A supplementation. Of them, around 1.9 million children between 12 months and 59 months will be given deworming tablets as well. Public health experts say that it is understandable for the number of children to decline in line with the declining fertility rate—and everyone is aware of the decline in fertility. However, they said that a decline of around one million children in a single year is impossible. They guess that either health authorities launched campaigns in the past based on wrong estimates and reported inaccurate coverage rates, or a large number of children have been missing from the programmes all along. “When we did not have the estimated number of children in the country, to whom did we administer vaccines in the past?” questioned Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, former director general of the Department of Health Services. “The two things cannot happen simultaneously—either we have been manipulating data of the target population and presenting wrong figures, or a large number of children are being excluded from essential services.” Experts say a decline of one million children in a year is a serious concern. As it also touches on the country’s demography, government agencies and policymakers must discuss the issue and offer clarification. “If the decline is accurate, what is our policy on demography, and how many children will not be born in the next five to 10 years?” questioned Dr Yasho Vardhan Pradhan, another former director general at the Department of Health Services. “If not, who were the children the government had been serving?” Officials at the Health Ministry said that data of the target population is sometimes manipulated to match the amount of vitamins tablets and other supplies they have bought. “Sometimes data is manipulated to secure more funds from aid agencies,” said an official asking not to be named. “Data on HIV, malaria, and other programmes were manipulated in the past. When aid budgets declined, the estimated number of affected population automatically dropped. Similarly, if commodities [medicines, supplies] were purchased in large quantities without knowing the actual number of targeted population, in that case too there is a tendency to raise the estimated population.” Nepal experienced a population growth of 0.92 percent per annum over the past decade, according to officials. The growth rate has declined due to various factors, including internal and external migration, late marriage, rise in literacy rates, high unemployment, exorbitant child care cost, among other reasons, experts say. “If the birthrate has declined alarmingly, this will lead to a topsy-turvy population pyramid, with more elderly people than young population,” said Dr Padam Bahadur Chand, former chief of the Policy Planning and International Cooperation Division at the Health Ministry. “What is happening? Authorities must explain to the public.”

Health

Vitamin A supplementation and deworming campaign

['Vitamin A supplementation', 'deworming tablets', 'immunisation', 'population census', 'fertility rate']

-0.6

Negative

['HIV', 'malaria']

[]

['National Statistic Office', 'Department of Health Services', 'Family Welfare Division', 'Ministry of Health and Population']

['Lila Bikram Thapa', 'Dr Shyam Raj Upreti', 'Dr Yasho Vardhan Pradhan', 'Dr Padam Bahadur Chand']

null

['Vitamin A supplementation', 'deworming tablets']

[]

4,155

18

98

126

null

2

50

2

{'National Statistic Office': 'Neutral', 'Department of Health Services': 'Negative', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Neutral', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Negative'}

{'Lila Bikram Thapa': 'Neutral', 'Dr Shyam Raj Upreti': 'Positive', 'Dr Yasho Vardhan Pradhan': 'Positive', 'Dr Padam Bahadur Chand': 'Positive'}

{}

{'National Statistic Office': 0, 'Department of Health Services': -0.75, 'Family Welfare Division': 0, 'Ministry of Health and Population': -0.55}

{'Lila Bikram Thapa': 0, 'Dr Shyam Raj Upreti': 0.35, 'Dr Yasho Vardhan Pradhan': 0.35, 'Dr Padam Bahadur Chand': 0.4}

{}

Physical

{'HIV': 'not addressed', 'malaria': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal']

9

{}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/25/essential-medicines-are-free-but-most-patients-in-need-are-without-them

2025-11-26T06:56:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-26T00:00:00

Essential medicines are free, but most patients in need are without them

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-25T00:00:00

Kathmandu

On Monday, a 55-year-old woman from Maijubahal in Kathmandu reached the Gaurighat-based urban health promotion centre to get the medicines for hypothyroidism. Health workers serving there told her that thyroxine 50 mg was out of stock and instead offered the drug’s 25 mg version, asking her to take two tablets once. “The woman refused to take the medicine saying that she cannot take two tablets at once,” said Niruta Kumari Shrestha, pharmacy assistant serving at the centre. “A lot of patients visit our centre for free medicines, but we provide only the medicines that are in the government’s list of free essential medicines.” Though medicines of hypothyroidism are not in the government’s list of 98 free essential medicines, the Kathmandu city office has allocated a budget to provide additional medicines free of cost. The metropolis currently provides 108 types of medicines that include medicines of blood pressure, high blood sugar and asthma free of cost from its urban health promotion centres. “Despite inclusion of additional medicines in the free essential list from the KMC’s own budget, a lot of patients have returned from the centres without medicines,” said Gyan Bahadur Oli, a health worker serving at the Health Department under the city office. “There are thousands of brands, formulations of medicines and each patient needs a different composition and dose.” Doctors say that medicine used for one patient with a particular ailment may not necessarily suit another. Doses of medicines each patient requires may also vary. “A 68-year-old man had come to our centre to change his blood pressure medicine, as the medicine he had been taking caused swelling of feet,” said Shrestha. “We have only two medicines for high blood pressure and the doctor’s prescription was different from the medicine we had.” Sometimes patients need high-dose medicines that are not included in the free essential list. Health workers tried to manage this by providing several low-dose tablets and asking patients to take them at once, but patients found it uncomfortable. A lot of patients seek medicines of gastritis in the state-run health facilities, but the medicine of tablet form is not included in free essential list. Doctors say cost of the medicines are among the reasons that discouraged many patients of non-communicable diseases—high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid, cholesterol, asthma among others from starting. They warn that health problems get exacerbated if patients refuse to take medicine on time and continue the medicines. “Most patients suffering from non-communicable diseases including high blood pressure and high blood sugar refused to start medicines in the initial stage and said that they would change behaviour and come with another report in a few days,” said Dr Om Murti Anil, an interventional cardiologist. “Many patients keep the report to themselves and some even try to conceal it from their family members. Refusing to take medicines does not help cure ailments, instead problems get exacerbated.” Experts say that if the list of free essential medicines are extended by all local units like the Kathmandu metropolis and medicines are made available in multiple doses, poor patients do not have to hesitate to start medicines of non-communicable diseases. “We have to try hard to convince patients to start medicine and not to discontinue,” said Dr Dipak Malla, an endocrinologist serving at Bir Hospital. “Most patients say they will consult their family members first. They fear that medicines will be required for life.” State-run health facilities across the country provide up to 98 types of medicines free of cost to ailing patients seeking cure. Free essential drugs include medicines for communicable and non-communicable diseases. The burden of non-communicable diseases has risen alarmingly in Nepal in recent years. The Nepal Burden of Disease 2017 report attributed two-thirds (66 percent) of total deaths to non-communicable diseases, while the figure jumped to 71.1 percent in the 2019 report. The Global Burden of Disease 2021 shows 73 percent of deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases.

Healthcare

Access to Medicines

['hypothyroidism', 'non-communicable diseases', 'free essential medicines', 'health promotion centres', 'medicine availability']

-0.6

Negative

['hypothyroidism', 'high blood pressure', 'high blood sugar', 'asthma', 'gastritis', 'diabetes', 'thyroid', 'cholesterol']

['Bir Hospital']

['Kathmandu city office', 'Health Department']

['Niruta Kumari Shrestha', 'Gyan Bahadur Oli', 'Dr Om Murti Anil', 'Dr Dipak Malla']

null

['thyroxine', 'tablet form']

['list of free essential medicines', 'government’s list of 98 free essential medicines']

4,156

122

84

46

null

88

28

16

{'Kathmandu city office': 'Negative', 'Health Department': 'Neutral'}

{'Niruta Kumari Shrestha': 'Neutral', 'Gyan Bahadur Oli': 'Neutral', 'Dr Om Murti Anil': 'Neutral', 'Dr Dipak Malla': 'Neutral'}

{'list of free essential medicines': 'Negative', 'government’s list of 98 free essential medicines': 'Negative'}

{'Bir Hospital': 'Positive'}

{'Kathmandu city office': -0.3, 'Health Department': 0.0}

{'Niruta Kumari Shrestha': 0.0, 'Gyan Bahadur Oli': 0.0, 'Dr Om Murti Anil': 0.0, 'Dr Dipak Malla': 0.0}

{'list of free essential medicines': -0.75, 'government’s list of 98 free essential medicines': -0.78}

{'Bir Hospital': 0.42}

Physical

null

['Maijubahal', 'Kathmandu', 'Gaurighat', 'Nepal']

49

{'location_by_disease': {'Kathmandu': ['hypothyroidism', 'hypertension', 'diabetes', 'asthma', 'gastritis', 'cholesterol']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/26/early-winter-chill-fuels-surge-in-respiratory-illnesses

2025-11-27T06:42:00

kathmandu_post

2025-11-27T00:00:00

Early winter chill fuels respiratory cases

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-26T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Respiratory wards at Kathmandu’s Bir Hospital and the TU Teaching Hospital are overwhelmed as cases of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, and other respiratory infections have surged amid falling temperatures and rising air pollution. At Bir, all 24 beds in the respiratory ward are full, and doctors have had to admit patients to other wards, as intensive care units are also operating at full capacity. “Beds in the intensive care unit remain packed all the time and the number of patients with respiratory tract infections has risen significantly in recent weeks,” said Dr Aashes Dhungana, a pulmonologist and a critical care physician at Bir Hospital. “Some of the patients require intensive care, but we don’t have sufficient beds to accommodate all seriously ill patients.” Although winter has yet to set in fully, minimum temperatures in the Kathmandu valley have dropped significantly, to around 7 degree Celsius. Rising air pollution is also being blamed for the surge in respiratory illnesses. Air pollution levels in the Valley reach hazardous levels in the mornings these days. Dr Dhungana said over 300 patients with respiratory problems visit the hospital’s outpatient department daily. He said that the number of patients seeking emergency care for respiratory problems has also risen markedly. The TU Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj is seeing a similar surge. “Over 300 patients visit the outpatient department for treatment of respiratory problems,” said Dr Niraj Bam, associate professor at the TU Institute of Medicine. “Emergency cases for respiratory problems have also risen sharply in recent days.” Doctors at both hospitals, Nepal’s major tertiary care facilities, said the number of ICU beds is insufficient for the current demand. In many cases, patients’ relatives are forced to take their loved ones to private hospitals, which are several times more expensive than state-run health facilities. Doctors warn that respiratory problems could worsen in the coming days as winter sets in, because multiple respiratory viruses and microbes become more active in colder conditions. Falling temperatures and deteriorating air quality could seriously impact public health, they say. Viruses causing influenza are highly contagious, which spread quickly in communities and affect the lungs of infected patients. These diseases can cause fever, cough, body aches, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as pneumonia. If left untreated, they can lead to death. According to doctors, poor air quality causes both short- and long-term effects on public health. Bad air quality can cause pneumonia, bronchitis, conjunctivitis, skin allergy, stroke and heart problems, among others, in the short term, ulcers and cancer of the lungs and intestine, kidney disease and heart problems in the long run. Experts say early diagnosis is crucial to prevent infection. Patients recover early if treated on time. Experts also said that both the severity of the disease and deaths increase if seasonal influenza cases are not diagnosed in time. Public health measures—mask-wearing, handwashing, avoiding crowds, and maintaining social distancing—can reduce infection, according to doctors. They asked to get inoculated with influenza and pneumonia shots to the elderly people and those having underlying health conditions. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said there is no effect of Ethiopian volcanic ash in Nepal on Wednesday. “Volcanic ash had entered Nepal on Tuesday, but it was high in the atmosphere and did not affect our country,” said Gobinda Jha, a meteorologist at the division. “The air has now carried it away. We don’t need to worry about that." Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano, which was dormant for thousands of years, erupted on Sunday morning and sent an ash column thousands of feet into the sky. The volcanic ash reached Nepal on Tuesday, but it remained high in the atmosphere and caused no impact on the country.

Respiratory Health

Surge in Respiratory Illnesses due to Air Pollution and Cold Weather

['Respiratory problems', 'Asthma', 'COPD', 'Pneumonia', 'Air pollution']

-0.8

Negative

['asthma', 'chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)', 'pneumonia', 'respiratory infections', 'respiratory tract infections', 'influenza', 'bronchitis', 'conjunctivitis', 'skin allergy', 'stroke', 'heart problems', 'ulcers', 'cancer of the lungs and intestine', 'kidney disease']

['Bir Hospital', 'TU Teaching Hospital']

['TU Institute of Medicine', 'Department of Hydrology and Meteorology', 'Meteorological Forecasting Division']

['Dr Aashes Dhungana', 'Dr Niraj Bam', 'Gobinda Jha']

null

['influenza shots', 'pneumonia shots']

['public health measures']

4,040

283

53

110

null

26

38

40

{'TU Institute of Medicine': 'Neutral', 'Department of Hydrology and Meteorology': 'Positive', 'Meteorological Forecasting Division': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Aashes Dhungana': 'Neutral', 'Dr Niraj Bam': 'Neutral', 'Gobinda Jha': 'Neutral'}

{'public health measures': 'Positive'}

{'Bir Hospital': 'Negative', 'TU Teaching Hospital': 'Negative'}

{'TU Institute of Medicine': 0.0, 'Department of Hydrology and Meteorology': 0.2, 'Meteorological Forecasting Division': 0.5}

{'Dr Aashes Dhungana': 0, 'Dr Niraj Bam': 0, 'Gobinda Jha': 0}

{'public health measures': 0.82}

{'Bir Hospital': -0.66, 'TU Teaching Hospital': -0.62}

Physical

null

['Kathmandu', 'Nepal', 'Kathmandu valley', 'Valley', 'Maharajgunj']

67

{'Kathmandu': ['asthma', 'chronic obstructive pulmonary disease', 'pneumonia', 'respiratory infections', 'respiratory tract infections', 'influenza', 'bronchitis', 'conjunctivitis', 'skin allergy', 'stroke', 'heart problems', 'ulcers', 'lung cancer', 'intestinal cancer', 'kidney disease']}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/05/nepal-cannot-end-malaria-until-india-has-it

2025-12-06T07:19:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-06T00:00:00

Nepal ‘cannot end’ malaria until India does so

Arjun Poudel

2025-12-05T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Nepal’s fight against malaria is complicated by the ongoing presence of the disease in India, experts say, as the latest report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows a sharp increase in locally transmitted cases and two deaths in Nepal in 2024. Besides the two deaths, 37 people were infected with locally transmitted malaria in Nepal last year, according to the WHO report. The “World malaria report 2025” by the UN’s apex health body published on Thursday shows that cases of indigenous malaria or locally transmitted malaria rose by 146.7 percent in 2024 compared to 2023, when only 15 cases of indigenous malaria were detected and no one had died. What has alarmed doctors as well as entomologists is that a more than two-fold rise in locally transmitted cases and deaths could hinder the country’s efforts to achieve elimination status for the disease, which is potentially fatal. “If there are deaths despite the availability of testing and effective treatment throughout the country, it is a serious issue,” said Dr Yasho Vardhan Pradhan, former director general at the department of Health Services. “How is it possible to achieve the elimination goal, if deaths and new cases of locally transmitted malaria keep rising ?” Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites carried by female Anopheles mosquitoes, according to the WHO. In indigenous cases, infected persons do not have a history of travel to malaria-affected countries or areas. Imported cases refer to infections in people who have travelled to disease-hit areas or countries. Nepal missed its malaria elimination target multiple times in the past—2026, 2023, and 2020. The new deadline to achieve elimination status has now been postponed to 2030. To achieve the elimination status, a country must bring indigenous cases or local transmission of the disease to zero, achieve zero deaths, and sustain zero cases for three consecutive years, according to the UN health body. Entomologists say they are sceptical about Nepal’s ability to eliminate the disease even in the next five years, as the country faces old and new challenges. Open borders, global movements and mosquitoes moving to higher altitudes due to global warming pose challenges to the elimination goal, they said. They added that due to proximity, and an open and porous border between Nepal and India, and unregulated movement of people between the two countries, it will be impossible to eliminate malaria in Nepal until the disease is eliminated in India. “Additional efforts from all agencies concerned, and financial resources, are needed if we are to achieve the targets,” said Sishir Panta, an entomologist. “Along with this, cross-border collaboration is crucial in the fight against malaria.” Although Bhutan borders India, its controlled crossings have helped it stay malaria-free for the past three years. Bhutan reported no malaria cases in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and is now eligible for malaria-free status. The WHO report also highlighted cross-border challenges, as population movement across the porous Nepal-India border continues to sustain residual transmission and complicate control measures. “Malaria transmission remains localised across India and Nepal, where outbreaks and cross-border population movement have continued to challenge elimination efforts,” reads the report. “These patterns highlight the importance of enhanced cross-border collaboration, targeted subnational responses and strengthened surveillance systems to address remaining transmission and sustain progress towards elimination.” Of the total locally transmitted cases reported last year, 92.5 percent were male and only 7.5 percent were female, which indicates that migrant labourers travelling to India are at high risk of infection. Officials say that of the total imported cases, over 80 percent originated in India. Despite multiple challenges in eliminating the disease, the WHO report shows that India and Nepal are on track to achieve the global technical strategy target of at least a 75 percent reduction in incidence by 2025, as these countries have already achieved reductions exceeding 70 percent by 2024.

Malaria Elimination

Challenges in Nepal

['Malaria', 'Nepal', 'India', 'WHO', 'Elimination Status', 'Locally Transmitted Cases']

-0.6

Negative

['malaria']

[]

['World Health Organisation (WHO)', 'UN']

['Dr Yasho Vardhan Pradhan', 'Sishir Panta']

null

[]

['global technical strategy']

4,155

11

44

41

null

29

2

{'World Health Organisation (WHO)': 'Neutral', 'UN': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Yasho Vardhan Pradhan': 'Positive', 'Sishir Panta': 'Positive'}

{'global technical strategy': 'Positive'}

{}

{'World Health Organisation (WHO)': 0.0, 'UN': 0.0}

{'Dr Yasho Vardhan Pradhan': 0.32, 'Sishir Panta': 0.35}

{'global technical strategy': 0.82}

{}

Physical

{'malaria': 'addressed'}

['Nepal', 'India', 'Bhutan']

28

{'location_by_disease': {}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/04/lumbini-tops-provinces-in-maternal-deaths-referral-gaps-blamed

2025-12-04T19:24:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-06T00:00:00

Lumbini tops provinces in maternal deaths. Referral gaps blamed

Arjun Poudel

2025-12-04T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Gaps in Lumbini province’s referral system became clear last fiscal year when a woman in her early 30s from Kapilvastu district died on the way to the fourth hospital she was sent to. She had been taken to a nearby birthing center after prolonged labour at home, and from there health workers referred her woman to the Butwal-based Siddhartha Children and Women Hospital. Doctors there sent her to Lumbini Provincial Hospital, whose doctors then referred her to the Bhairahawa-based Universal College of Medical Sciences. “If we had developed a proper referral system, the woman would not have to die due to maternity-related complications,” said Kumar Thapa, maternal and child health focal person at the Health Directorate under the Ministry of Health and Population of Lumbini Province. “Due to delays in treatment, she died even after reaching multiple health facilities.” Lumbini Province has the highest maternal death rate in the country, and referral delays and mismanagement are considered among the main culprits. Data from the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services show that 94 women died due to maternity related complications in the last fiscal year. Of them, 51 died in the health facilities and 43 died at home. The number of maternal deaths in both health facilities and at home is highest compared to other provinces across the country. According to the division, there were 30 maternal deaths in hospitals in Bagmati province, followed by Koshi province with 26, Madhesh province 13, Sudurpaschim and Karnali 9 each, and Gandaki province 8. Likewise Sudurpaschim recorded 20 maternal deaths at home, followed by 18 each in Koshi and Madhesh provinces, Karnali 9, Gandaki 5 and Bagmati 3. Health workers in Lumbini province said that along with referral delays and mismanagement, delays in reaching health facilities and delays in providing treatment are equally responsible for high maternal deaths. The Ministry of Health and Population, however, does not consider the gap in the referral system responsible for high maternal deaths. According to the ministry, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium (the period of about six weeks after childbirth during which the mother’s reproductive organs return to their original non-pregnant condition) are responsible for maternal deaths. Non-obstructive complications, obstructive complications, pregnancy-related infections, pregnancies with abortion, and unanticipated complications are among the other reasons. Health officials in the districts say that poor health education, service-seeking behaviour, low priority for women’s health within families, and poor service quality in health facilities all contribute to high maternal deaths. “Lumbini Province is far behind in overall health indicators, and the reasons vary,” said Roshan Lal Chaudhary, acting director of the Health Directorate of the province. “A floating population, scattered slums, high density of working-class people, lack of awareness and poor access to health services all contribute to poor health indicators.” Nepal has reduced maternal deaths by over 70 percent since 2000, according to the World Health Organisation. The UN health body, in its report released in April, stated that 142 Nepali women die from maternity-related complications per 100,000 live births. A previous study carried out by the National Statistics Office in 2021 had shown 151 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Earlier, in 2016, Nepal had reduced the maternal mortality rate from 539 per 100,000 births in 1996 to 239 per 100,000 births—for which the country even received the Millennium Development Goals award. The health target under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is to reduce the maternal mortality rate to 75 per 100,000 births by 2030. Maternal health experts say that it is impossible to meet the target without knowing the root cause of the problems and launching targeted interventions. Experts said non-health interventions—awareness drives, improved financial conditions of people, their education levels, and sanitation conditions—can go a long way in improving health indicators. To improve the indicators, they added, authorities must carry out micro-planning and ensure coordination among all stakeholders, including agencies of all three tiers of government as well as international aid agencies.

Maternal Health

Maternal Mortality Rate

['Maternal Mortality Rate', 'Referral System', 'Maternity-related Complications', 'Health Education', 'Service Quality']

-0.8

Negative

['prolonged labour', 'maternity-related complications', 'hypertensive disorders in pregnancy', 'puerperium', 'pregnancy-related infections', 'obstructive complications', 'non-obstructive complications']

['Siddhartha Children and Women Hospital', 'Lumbini Provincial Hospital', 'Universal College of Medical Sciences']

['Ministry of Health and Population', 'Health Directorate', 'Family Welfare Division', 'Department of Health Services', 'World Health Organisation', 'National Statistics Office', 'UN']

['Kumar Thapa', 'Roshan Lal Chaudhary']

null

[]

['Millennium Development Goals', 'Sustainable Development Goals']

4,395

202

39

184

null

65

2

114

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Negative', 'Health Directorate': 'Neutral', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Neutral', 'Department of Health Services': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive', 'National Statistics Office': 'Neutral', 'UN': 'Neutral'}

{'Kumar Thapa': 'Positive', 'Roshan Lal Chaudhary': 'Positive'}

{'Millennium Development Goals': 'Positive', 'Sustainable Development Goals': 'Neutral'}

{'Siddhartha Children and Women Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Lumbini Provincial Hospital': 'Negative', 'Universal College of Medical Sciences': 'Neutral'}

{'Ministry of Health and Population': -0.7, 'Health Directorate': 0.0, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.0, 'Department of Health Services': 0.0, 'World Health Organisation': 0.8, 'National Statistics Office': 0.0, 'UN': 0.0}

{'Kumar Thapa': 0.65, 'Roshan Lal Chaudhary': 0.55}

{'Millennium Development Goals': 0.8, 'Sustainable Development Goals': 0.0}

{'Siddhartha Children and Women Hospital': 0.0, 'Lumbini Provincial Hospital': -0.35, 'Universal College of Medical Sciences': 0.0}

Physical

{'prolonged labour': 'not addressed', 'maternity-related complications': 'not addressed', 'hypertensive disorders in pregnancy': 'not addressed', 'puerperium': 'not addressed', 'pregnancy-related infections': 'not addressed', 'obstructive complications': 'not addressed', 'non-obstructive complications': 'not addressed'}

['Lumbini province', 'Kapilvastu district', 'Butwal', 'Bhairahawa', 'Bagmati province', 'Koshi province', 'Madhesh province', 'Sudurpaschim', 'Karnali', 'Gandaki province', 'Nepal']

181

{'location_by_disease': {'Kapilvastu': ['maternity-related complications', 'hypertensive disorders in pregnancy', 'non-obstructive complications', 'obstructive complications', 'pregnancy-related infections', 'pregnancies with abortion', 'unanticipated complications']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/03/dengue-cases-down-but-virus-widespread-across-nepal

2025-12-03T19:09:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-06T00:00:00

Dengue cases down, but virus widespread across Nepal

Post Report

2025-12-03T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Dengue cases have declined significantly this year compared to the previous few years, offering relief to health authorities who had long been criticised for not doing enough to stop the disease. According to the data of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, six people died and 8,109 others tested positive with dengue virus that has spread in 76 out of 77 districts throughout the country since January. In 2024, 15 people died, and 41,865 others were infected as the virus spread to 76 districts. In 2023, 88 persons died and more than 54,000 were infected by the virus, which had spread to all 77 districts. At the time, hospitals in Kathmandu Valley were overwhelmed with dengue patients, and pharmacies had run out of paracetamol, the most widely used medicine to treat fever. “This year the number of reported cases of dengue infection was very low, compared to previous years,” said Dr Gokarna Dahal, chief of the Vector Control Section at the division. “No major hotspot of the dengue infection was recorded this time.” Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by female Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organisation, the same vector also transmits chikungunya, yellow fever, and the Zika virus. Experts say reported cases may represent only a small fraction of the true scale of infection, as around 90 percent of the infected people are asymptomatic, and many deaths and infections often go unreported. Many people infected with dengue show mild symptoms, which do not need any treatment or can be managed with paracetamol at home. Since dengue became endemic in Nepal years ago, meaning people get infected throughout the year, health officials no longer classify it as an outbreak of a deadly virus. Infection of the deadly disease has continued unabated despite the declining temperature in recent days. According to the latest data of the division, 56 people tested positive for the infection of dengue virus in the past one week and six in the past 24 hours. All mountain districts except Dolpa reported infection of dengue virus this year. It was considered that the dengue spreading mosquito vectors do not survive in the cold temperature thus there is no risk of dengue infection in mountainous districts and chilling weather conditions. However, the division’s data shows otherwise. Experts say even if maximum temperatures have declined, they remain above 15 degree Celsius, which is enough for dengue spreading mosquitoes to survive. Health officials say that they have been working on multiyear guideline and dengue control strategies, as even if cases of infection have declined, risk of massive spread of the disease has not lessened, as vectors spreading the deadly disease have spread all over the country. “We will continuously alert agencies in the province and at the local level about the risk and encourage them to take mitigation measures,” said Dahal. “The situation could go out of control if concerned agencies stopped taking measures and the general public let the guard down.” Dengue mosquitoes breed in clean water and bite during daytime. Uncovered water tanks and discarded objects such as plastic cups and bottles can serve as breeding grounds. Symptoms of the disease include mild to high fever, severe muscle pain, rashes, severe headache and pain in the eyes, among other things. Doctors advise those with these symptoms to seek immediate treatment. While there is no specific cure for the disease, early detection and access to proper medical care can lower fatalities. Many people infected with dengue show mild symptoms, which do not need any treatment or can be managed with paracetamol at home. Nepal reported its first dengue case in a foreigner in 2004 in Chitwan district. Since then, an increasing number of dengue infections, including major outbreaks, have been reported from many districts. The World Health Organisation says there is no specific cure for severe dengue, but early detection and access to proper medical care can save lives.

Dengue Disease

Decline in Cases

['Dengue Virus', 'Infection Rate', 'Health Authorities', 'Mosquito Vectors', 'Epidemiology']

0.6

Positive

['dengue', 'chikungunya', 'yellow fever', 'Zika virus']

[]

['Epidemiology and Disease Control Division', 'World Health Organisation']

['Dr Gokarna Dahal']

null

['paracetamol']

[]

4,049

55

20

74

null

2

15

2

{'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Gokarna Dahal': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 0.62, 'World Health Organisation': 0.38}

{'Dr Gokarna Dahal': 0.65}

{}

Physical

{'dengue': 'addressed', 'chikungunya': 'not addressed', 'yellow fever': 'not addressed', 'Zika virus': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Kathmandu Valley', 'Dolpa', 'Chitwan district']

58

{'location_by_disease': {'Chitwan': ['dengue']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/02/nepal-to-assess-c-section-delivery-and-special-newborn-services-in-all-hospitals

2025-12-02T20:06:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-06T00:00:00

Nepal to assess C-section delivery and special newborn services in all hospitals

Post Report

2025-12-02T00:00:00

Kathmandu

In a bid to examine the quality of services at health facilities offering cesarean delivery and those running special newborn units, the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services is preparing to carry out a national-level assessment. Officials said the planned assessment will help identify gaps in service delivery and reduce ongoing maternal and neonatal deaths. “Assessment will be carried out in all hospitals of all seven provinces providing cesarean delivery services and hospitals running special newborn units,” said Nisha Joshi, senior public health officer at the division. “The move will help us to know the service gap and the improvements needed to reduce deaths.” Caesarean section, also known as C-section, is a surgical delivery procedure performed during emergencies. The procedure is lifesaving when vaginal delivery poses a risk to the mother or baby due to obstructed labour, foetal distress or an abnormal position of the baby, doctors say. According to the findings of the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022 carried out by the Ministry of Health and Population, one in five women in Nepal give birth through caesarean section. The C-section delivery rate at private hospitals is several times higher than that at state-run hospitals. Officials say scores of health facilities across the country provide C-section delivery services, which need to be assessed periodically to know the service quality and figure out the gaps. “If gaps and shortcomings are addressed on time, previous avoidable mistakes can be prevented, and lives can be saved,” said Joshi. Officials said that the division has requested various aid agencies and development partners for financial help to carry out assessment. Nepal has reduced maternal deaths by over 70 percent since 2000, according to the World Health Organisation. The UN health body, in its report released in April, stated that 142 Nepali women die from maternity-related complications per 100,000 live births. A previous study carried out by the National Statistics Office in 2021 had shown 151 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Earlier, in 2016, the country reduced the maternal mortality rate from 539 per 100,000 births in 1996 to 239 per 100,000 births in 2016—for which the country even received the Millennium Development Goals award. The health target under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is to reduce the maternal mortality rate to 75 per 100,000 births by 2030. Officials said that they will also assess health facilities providing special newborn care units. Special newborn care units are general units designed to care for newborn children who fall ill shortly after birth. Doctors, nurses, and paramedics monitor ailing newborns admitted to the unit. As many as 85 hospitals throughout the country have been running special newborn care units, which aim to prevent neonatal deaths from various causes—hypothermia, infection, low birth weight, premature birth, and abnormal birth asphyxia, among others. Other programmes to lower child mortality include newborn care, kangaroo care, exclusive breastfeeding, infection prevention, chlorhexidine for umbilical cord care, and free neonatal care. The WHO report shows neonatal mortality now stands at 16.6 per 1,000 live births, and the stillbirth rate has decreased to 13.5 per 1,000 births. The Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022, carried out by the Ministry of Health and Population, showed that 21 neonates die per 1,000 live births. The health target under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is to reduce neonatal deaths to 12 for every 1,000 births. The SDGs, a follow-up on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), aim to end poverty and hunger and all forms of inequality in the world by 2030, and Nepal has committed to meeting the goals. Maternal and child health experts say that periodic assessment is necessary to know the service quality, and improve shortcomings to prevent ongoing deaths of mothers and newborns. “If we have to achieve our goals to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths, we must identify the gaps, improve our service quality, and for that periodic assessment is a must,” said Dr Ganesh Dangal, a maternal and child health expert. “Along with this access to uninterrupted services in their own place and trained human resources must be ensured.”

Healthcare

Maternal and Neonatal Care

['cesarean delivery', 'maternal mortality', 'neonatal deaths', 'health facilities', 'service quality']

0.6

Positive

['obstructed labour', 'foetal distress', 'abnormal position of the baby', 'hypothermia', 'infection', 'low birth weight', 'premature birth', 'abnormal birth asphyxia']

['private hospitals', 'state-run hospitals']

['Family Welfare Division', 'Department of Health Services', 'Ministry of Health and Population', 'World Health Organisation', 'National Statistics Office', 'UN']

['Nisha Joshi', 'Dr Ganesh Dangal']

null

['chlorhexidine']

['Millennium Development Goals', 'Sustainable Development Goals', 'Maternal and child health policies']

4,355

167

35

162

null

103

17

44

{'Family Welfare Division': 'Positive', 'Department of Health Services': 'Positive', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Positive', 'National Statistics Office': 'Neutral', 'UN': 'Neutral'}

{'Nisha Joshi': 'Positive', 'Dr Ganesh Dangal': 'Positive'}

{'Millennium Development Goals': 'Positive', 'Sustainable Development Goals': 'Positive', 'Maternal and child health policies': 'Positive'}

{'private hospitals': 'Neutral', 'state-run hospitals': 'Neutral'}

{'Family Welfare Division': 0.85, 'Department of Health Services': 0.8, 'Ministry of Health and Population': 0, 'World Health Organisation': 0.9, 'National Statistics Office': 0, 'UN': 0}

{'Nisha Joshi': 0.86, 'Dr Ganesh Dangal': 0.84}

{'Millennium Development Goals': 0.8, 'Sustainable Development Goals': 0.6, 'Maternal and child health policies': 0.5}

{'private hospitals': 0.0, 'state-run hospitals': 0.0}

Physical

{'obstructed labour': 'addressed', 'foetal distress': 'addressed', 'abnormal position of the baby': 'addressed', 'hypothermia': 'addressed', 'infection': 'addressed', 'low birth weight': 'addressed', 'premature birth': 'addressed', 'abnormal birth asphyxia': 'addressed'}

['Nepal']

9

{'location_by_disease': {}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/01/hypertension-and-diabetes-driving-eye-crisis-in-kathmandu-valley

2025-12-02T07:10:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-06T00:00:00

Hypertension and diabetes driving eye crisis in Kathmandu Valley

Arjun Poudel

2025-12-01T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Non-communicable diseases, especially hypertension and diabetes, are fueling an alarming rise in eye problems, a new study by the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology shows. The report titled “An Epidemiological Study of Ocular Diseases in the Kathmandu District of Nepal: Kathmandu Eye Study” the population-level assessment of the prevalence of blindness and vision impairment, published last week, shows that most people above 40 years of age (97.7 percent) from the Kathmandu Valley, were diagnosed with some form of eye disease. “Of total participants, 69.4 percent of them had hypertension and 47.2 percent of them had diabetes,” the report stated. “Among participants with hypertension, one percent had hypertensive retinopathy and 7.3 percent of those with diabetes had diabetic retinopathy.” Doctors say hypertensive retinopathy is damage to retinas from long-term high blood pressure. Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the retina due to a high blood sugar. Along with hypertension and diabetes, overweight and obesity have emerged as serious problems in the population of the Valley, which is considered a major risk factor for several non-communicable diseases that ultimately fuelled eye problems. According to the report 43.53 percent of the total participants were overweight while 23 percent were obese. Of the total newly diagnosed patients having high blood sugar, 1.6 percent were found to have diabetic retinopathy. “Prevalence of non-communicable diseases—hypertension and diabetes—among people above 40 years of age have been found at alarming level in Kathmandu,” said Dr Reeta Gurung, chief executive officer at the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, “High blood pressure and high blood sugar affect overall health, including eye health.” The burden of non-communicable diseases has risen alarmingly in recent years. The Nepal Burden of Disease 2017 report had attributed two-thirds (66 percent) of total deaths to non-communicable diseases, while the figure jumped to 71.1 percent in the 2019 report. The Global Burden of Disease 2021 has shown that non-communicable diseases are responsible for 73 percent of total deaths. Likewise,a report published in The Lancet, a leading international medical journal, a few months ago, warned that half of Nepal’s adult population will be overweight or obese by 2050. In Nepal, the obesity rate in males increased from 11.7 percent in 1990 to 29.5 percent in 2021, and from 13.9 percent to 28.1 percent in females. Without any intervention, by 2050, these figures are projected to increase to 52.2 percent in males and 47.8 percent in females. The World Health Organisation said that many low- and middle-income countries like Nepal are now facing a ‘double burden’ —under-nutrition as well as a rapid upsurge in obesity-related cases, particularly in the urban areas. Public health experts say it is high time to focus on non-communicable diseases, as their prevalence has risen alarmingly. “We should all be aware of the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, which not only affect overall personal health but also increase financial burden and stress on families,” said Gurung, who is also a reputed ophthalmologist and cornea expert. “We must avoid a sedentary lifestyle to prevent obesity problems, the root cause of most non-communicable diseases. Early diagnosis and timely, quality care make a huge difference.” The study was carried out on 4,990 people above 40 years of age. Selected participants were brought to Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology for full eye checkups and other general health examinations. Of the total participants, 43.53 percent were overweight, while 23 percent were obese. Of the total newly diagnosed patients having high blood sugar, 1.6 percent were found to have diabetic retinopathy. The study also found that one in ten people with blindness did not seek eye consultation, which indicated persistent unmet needs within the community. The report also stresses the need to integrate eye health into the general healthcare system and calls for implementing comprehensive eye screening programmes periodically, along with targeted community education. According to the report, strengthening eye health in Kathmandu requires integrating eye care within the general health system. “Health promotion strategies should be focused on addressing NCD-related risks such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes,” the report stated.

Non-communicable diseases

Eye problems

['hypertension', 'diabetes', 'eye diseases', 'obesity', 'non-communicable diseases']

-0.6

Negative

['hypertension', 'diabetes', 'non-communicable diseases', 'eye problems', 'hypertensive retinopathy', 'diabetic retinopathy', 'obesity', 'overweight', 'blindness', 'vision impairment']

['Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology']

['World Health Organisation', 'The Lancet']

['Dr Reeta Gurung']

null

[]

['Nepal Burden of Disease 2017 report', 'Nepal Burden of Disease 2019 report', 'Global Burden of Disease 2021']

4,434

184

19

43

null

111

2

39

{'World Health Organisation': 'Positive', 'The Lancet': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Reeta Gurung': 'Positive'}

{'Nepal Burden of Disease 2017 report': 'Neutral', 'Nepal Burden of Disease 2019 report': 'Neutral', 'Global Burden of Disease 2021': 'Neutral'}

{'Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology': 'Positive'}

{'World Health Organisation': 0.66, 'The Lancet': 0.66}

{'Dr Reeta Gurung': '0.9'}

{'Nepal Burden of Disease 2017 report': 0.0, 'Nepal Burden of Disease 2019 report': 0.0, 'Global Burden of Disease 2021': 0.0}

{'Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology': 0.82}

Physical

{'hypertension': 'to be addressed', 'diabetes': 'to be addressed', 'non-communicable diseases': 'to be addressed', 'eye problems': 'not addressed', 'hypertensive retinopathy': 'not addressed', 'diabetic retinopathy': 'not addressed', 'obesity': 'to be addressed', 'overweight': 'to be addressed', 'blindness': 'not addressed', 'vision impairment': 'not addressed'}

['Kathmandu Valley', 'Nepal', 'Kathmandu']

42

{'location_by_disease': {'Kathmandu': ['hypertension', 'diabetes', 'hypertensive retinopathy', 'diabetic retinopathy', 'overweight', 'obesity', 'eye disease', 'blindness', 'vision impairment']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/30/hiv-killed-559-nepalis-and-infected-614-last-year

2025-11-30T20:55:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-06T00:00:00

HIV killed 559 Nepalis and infected 614 last year

Post Report

2025-11-30T00:00:00

Kathmandu

A total of 559 people died and 614 others tested positive for HIV in 2024, which indicated that the fight against the deadly diseases is still far from over despite measures taken for prevention and treatment. Though data from the National Centre for AIDS and STD Control shows 76 percent decline in death from HIV compared to 2010 and 89 percent decline in the new infection rate compared to 2000, hundreds of people are still getting infected every year. According to government estimates, 2,400 people had died from HIV in 2010, and 5,600 new cases of HIV were reported in 2000. In 2024, at least 37 children under 14 years of age tested HIV positive, down from 260 in 2010—an 86 percent decline. Data from the centre show that 26,372 people, or 77 percent of the total infected, are enrolled in antiretroviral therapy (ART). Along with this, the government provides services like prevention of mother-to-child transmission, CD4 count and viral load tests, and HIV testing during pregnancy, among others, all free of cost. Officials complain that despite efforts to expand prevention and treatment services, the country continues to face several hurdles in its HIV response. Hard-to-procure commodities, shortages of local and community-level resources, and limited technical capacity have hindered programme performance, according to them. “ART counsellors remain insufficient, supply-chain gaps persist, and community-based outreach is constrained,” said Dr Sarbesh Sharma, director at the Centre. “Limited budgets and funding cuts by development partners also increase challenges in Nepal’s fight against HIV.” Of the total budget, domestic funding accounts for only 36 percent, which is just sufficient to purchase antiretroviral medicines and testing. Major aid agencies, including USAID suspended funding, and this year the budget from the Global Fund was also not released on time. Due to funding cuts by USAID, hundreds of female sex workers and gay men, and people taking injectable drugs in Nepal have been deprived of pre-exposure prophylaxis since January. Pre-exposure prophylaxis is a medicine that people at risk for HIV take to prevent infection from unprotected sex or injectable drug use. Since the Health Ministry does not have its own preventive programmes, hundreds of at-risk people, including pregnant women whose husbands are HIV positive, have been deprived of medicine. This medicine is given to such women to prevent transmission of infection from infected husbands. Awareness campaigns targeting female sex workers, homosexual men, and other high-risk groups, community testing of HIV, behavioural change and other targeted interventions have also been halted indefinitely. HIV testing in Nepal has declined alarmingly in the first half of 2025, a drop experts say could reverse years of progress against the disease. According to data from the National Center for AIDS and STD Control under the Department of Health Services, 214,722 people underwent HIV testing from January to June this year, compared to 325,514 in the same period in 2024. New case detection has fallen proportionally with the decline in testing. The data show 1,024 new cases were detected until June this year, compared to 1,575 during the same period last year. Experts warn that the decline in testing could lead to a massive spread of the deadly disease. They warn that years of progress in HIV control achieved through huge investments could be jeopardised if testing is not resumed among key vulnerable populations. “If the testing is reduced, we cannot identify infections,” said Dr Anup Bastola, chief consultant of tropical medicine at the health ministry.“Even after infection, a person may remain asymptomatic for seven to 10 years and he/she could still transmit the virus.” Studies show one in every five HIV-infected people is unaware of their status. In 2024, an estimated 34,337 people were living with HIV in Nepal—4,037 more than in 2023.

HIV

HIV Infection and Prevention

['HIV', 'AIDS', 'Prevention', 'Treatment', 'Antiretroviral Therapy']

-0.6

Negative

['HIV', 'AIDS', 'STD']

[]

['National Centre for AIDS and STD Control', 'Department of Health Services', 'USAID', 'Global Fund', 'Health Ministry']

['Dr Sarbesh Sharma', 'Dr Anup Bastola']

null

['antiretroviral medicines', 'pre-exposure prophylaxis']

[]

3,960

22

40

120

null

2

56

2

{'National Centre for AIDS and STD Control': 'Positive', 'Department of Health Services': 'Neutral', 'USAID': 'Negative', 'Global Fund': 'Negative', 'Health Ministry': 'Negative'}

{'Dr Sarbesh Sharma': 'Neutral', 'Dr Anup Bastola': 'Neutral'}

{}

{'National Centre for AIDS and STD Control': 0.4, 'Department of Health Services': 0.0, 'USAID': -0.7, 'Global Fund': -0.6, 'Health Ministry': -0.5}

{'Dr Sarbesh Sharma': 0.0, 'Dr Anup Bastola': 0.0}

{}

Physical

{'HIV': 'addressed', 'AIDS': 'not addressed', 'STD': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal']

9

{'location_by_disease': {}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/11/28/foreign-aid-cut-causes-sharp-drop-in-hiv-testing-in-nepal

2025-11-28T19:02:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-06T00:00:00

Foreign aid cut causes sharp drop in HIV testing in Nepal

Arjun Poudel

2025-11-28T00:00:00

Kathmandu

HIV testing in Nepal declined alarmingly in the first half of 2025, a drop that experts say could reverse years of progress against the disease. According to data from the National Center for AIDS and STD Control under the Department of Health Services, 214,722 people underwent HIV testing from January to June this year, compared to 325,514 in the same period in 2024. With the decline in testing, new case detection has fallen proportionally. The data show 1,024 new cases were detected until June this year, compared to 1,575 new cases of HIV infection during the same period last year. What alarms experts is that testing has not only declined in the general population but has also stopped among high-risk groups—female sex workers, men having sex with men, transgender and other vulnerable populations. “Due to delays in the allocation of budget from the Global Fund and the suspension of USAID funding, testing of key vulnerable populations has been halted since January,” said Lok Raj Pandey, information officer at the National Center for AIDS and STD Control. “The main reason for the decline in HIV testing is the lack of funds, and funding has not yet resumed.” Experts warn that the decline in testing could lead to a massive spread of the deadly disease. They warn that years of progress in HIV control achieved through huge investments could be jeopardised if testing is not resumed among key vulnerable populations. “If the testing is reduced, we cannot identify infections,” said Dr Anup Bastola, chief consultant of tropical medicine.“Even after infection, a person may remain asymptomatic for seven to 10 years and he/she could still transmit the virus.” Studies show, one in every five HIV-infected people is unaware of their status. Experts say the decline in new case detection is an obvious result of the decline in testing. They, however, warn that this trend is serious and could prove too costly for the country. “Testing helps in new case detection, which helps start treatment early meaning that complications including severity and deaths will be lessened,” said Bastola. “Early detection also helps protect family members from infection and allows those infected to live normal, healthier lives.” Health officials admit that alongside the decline in testing thousands of female sex workers, gay men, and people taking injectable drugs have been deprived of pre-exposure prophylaxis since USAID-funded programmes were suspended in January. Pre-exposure prophylaxis is a medicine that people at risk for HIV take to prevent infection from unprotected sex or injectable drug use. The Ministry of Health and Population does not have its own preventive programmes. As a result, hundreds of at-risk people, including pregnant women whose husbands are HIV-positive, have been deprived of the medicine. The abrupt suspension of USAID-funded programmes also disrupted awareness campaigns targeting female sex workers, homosexual men, and other high-risk groups, community testing of HIV, behavioural-change initiatives, and other targeted interventions have also been halted indefinitely. “We don’t have a budget for targeted intervention programmes,” said Pandey. “The budget allocated by the government is sufficient only for antiretroviral medicine and testing at government centres.” It is estimated that in 2024, a total of 34,337 people were living with HIV in Nepal, 4,037 more than in 2023.

HIV testing decline

Impact on Nepal

['HIV testing', 'Nepal', 'funding issues', 'high-risk groups', 'pre-exposure prophylaxis']

-0.8

Negative

['HIV', 'AIDS', 'STD']

[]

['National Center for AIDS and STD Control', 'Department of Health Services', 'Global Fund', 'USAID', 'Ministry of Health and Population']

['Lok Raj Pandey', 'Dr Anup Bastola']

null

['antiretroviral medicine', 'pre-exposure prophylaxis']

[]

3,420

22

37

138

null

2

55

2

{'National Center for AIDS and STD Control': 'Neutral', 'Department of Health Services': 'Neutral', 'Global Fund': 'Negative', 'USAID': 'Negative', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Negative'}

{'Lok Raj Pandey': 'Positive', 'Dr Anup Bastola': 'Positive'}

{}

{'N/A': 'Neutral'}

{'National Center for AIDS and STD Control': 0, 'Department of Health Services': 0, 'Global Fund': -0.6, 'USAID': -0.7, 'Ministry of Health and Population': -0.5}

{'Lok Raj Pandiv': 0.73, 'Dr Anup Bastola': 0.78}

{}

{'N/A': 0.0}

Physical

{'HIV': 'addressed', 'AIDS': 'addressed', 'STD': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal']

9

{'location_by_disease': {}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/05/nepal-cannot-end-malaria-until-india-has-it

2025-12-06T07:19:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-06T00:00:00

Nepal ‘cannot end’ malaria until India does so

Arjun Poudel

2025-12-05T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Nepal’s fight against malaria is complicated by the ongoing presence of the disease in India, experts say, as the latest report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows a sharp increase in locally transmitted cases and two deaths in Nepal in 2024. Besides the two deaths, 37 people were infected with locally transmitted malaria in Nepal last year, according to the WHO report. The “World malaria report 2025” by the UN’s apex health body published on Thursday shows that cases of indigenous malaria or locally transmitted malaria rose by 146.7 percent in 2024 compared to 2023, when only 15 cases of indigenous malaria were detected and no one had died. What has alarmed doctors as well as entomologists is that a more than two-fold rise in locally transmitted cases and deaths could hinder the country’s efforts to achieve elimination status for the disease, which is potentially fatal. “If there are deaths despite the availability of testing and effective treatment throughout the country, it is a serious issue,” said Dr Yasho Vardhan Pradhan, former director general at the department of Health Services. “How is it possible to achieve the elimination goal, if deaths and new cases of locally transmitted malaria keep rising ?” Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites carried by female Anopheles mosquitoes, according to the WHO. In indigenous cases, infected persons do not have a history of travel to malaria-affected countries or areas. Imported cases refer to infections in people who have travelled to disease-hit areas or countries. Nepal missed its malaria elimination target multiple times in the past—2026, 2023, and 2020. The new deadline to achieve elimination status has now been postponed to 2030. To achieve the elimination status, a country must bring indigenous cases or local transmission of the disease to zero, achieve zero deaths, and sustain zero cases for three consecutive years, according to the UN health body. Entomologists say they are sceptical about Nepal’s ability to eliminate the disease even in the next five years, as the country faces old and new challenges. Open borders, global movements and mosquitoes moving to higher altitudes due to global warming pose challenges to the elimination goal, they said. They added that due to proximity, and an open and porous border between Nepal and India, and unregulated movement of people between the two countries, it will be impossible to eliminate malaria in Nepal until the disease is eliminated in India. “Additional efforts from all agencies concerned, and financial resources, are needed if we are to achieve the targets,” said Sishir Panta, an entomologist. “Along with this, cross-border collaboration is crucial in the fight against malaria.” Although Bhutan borders India, its controlled crossings have helped it stay malaria-free for the past three years. Bhutan reported no malaria cases in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and is now eligible for malaria-free status. The WHO report also highlighted cross-border challenges, as population movement across the porous Nepal-India border continues to sustain residual transmission and complicate control measures. “Malaria transmission remains localised across India and Nepal, where outbreaks and cross-border population movement have continued to challenge elimination efforts,” reads the report. “These patterns highlight the importance of enhanced cross-border collaboration, targeted subnational responses and strengthened surveillance systems to address remaining transmission and sustain progress towards elimination.” Of the total locally transmitted cases reported last year, 92.5 percent were male and only 7.5 percent were female, which indicates that migrant labourers travelling to India are at high risk of infection. Officials say that of the total imported cases, over 80 percent originated in India. Despite multiple challenges in eliminating the disease, the WHO report shows that India and Nepal are on track to achieve the global technical strategy target of at least a 75 percent reduction in incidence by 2025, as these countries have already achieved reductions exceeding 70 percent by 2024.

Malaria Elimination

Nepal's Challenges

['Malaria', 'Nepal', 'India', 'WHO', 'Elimination', 'Locally Transmitted Cases']

-0.6

Negative

['malaria']

[]

['World Health Organisation (WHO)', 'UN']

['Dr Yasho Vardhan Pradhan', 'Sishir Panta']

null

[]

['global technical strategy']

4,155

11

44

41

null

29

2

{'World Health Organisation (WHO)': 'Neutral', 'UN': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Yasho Vardhan Pradhan': 'Positive', 'Sishir Panta': 'Positive'}

{'global technical strategy': 'Positive'}

{}

{'World Health Organisation (WHO)': 0.0, 'UN': 0.0}

{'Dr Yasho Vardhan Pradhan': 0.35, 'Sishir Panta': 0.55}

{'global technical strategy': 0.82}

{}

Physical

{'malaria': 'addressed'}

['Nepal', 'India', 'Bhutan']

28

{'location_by_disease': {}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/07/air-pollution-spikes-in-valley-experts-stress-coordinated-action

2025-12-08T06:49:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-08T00:00:00

Air pollution spikes in Kathmandu Valley. Experts call for coordinated action

Post Report

2025-12-07T00:00:00

Kathmandu

As air quality in the Kathmandu Valley has begun to worsen with the onset of winter, authorities have started taking various mitigation measures including repairs on major roads to reduce dust. Although the Road Division, Kathmandu, has begun filling potholes on roads it oversees, much of the Valley’s road network falls under several other agencies including the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), Bagmati Civilisation, and the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority. But these agencies have yet to repair the stretches they oversee, even though potholes are a major source of dust pollution. “Even on roads under our jurisdiction, we are not fixing the stretches where the Nepal Electricity Authority is digging to lay underground cables or where water pipes laid by the Project Implementation Directorate under the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited have leaked and may need to be dug up again,” said Ram Chandra Phuyal, information officer at the division. “We are doing our job, but we don’t know what other agencies are doing.” A few weeks ago, the KMC had issued a public notice warning residents not to burn waste materials, saying that doing so further exacerbates air pollution. “We started preventing open burning and waste burning in our jurisdiction from last year and have also taken action in the past,” said Sarita Rai, chief of the Environment Department at the KMC. “We have not seen anyone burning waste this time. We have effectively controlled waste burning within our jurisdiction, but we are not the only local unit in the Valley, and polluted air is not generated from our area alone.” The city office also said it will soon resume vehicle emission testing, which has been halted for months. But experts say patchwork measures—repairing potholes, preventing open burning in a few local units, or taking actions only in certain areas—will not help curb the rising air pollution. They say coordination among all stakeholder agencies, uniformity in actions, and shared responsibility are a must to tackle the growing air pollution. “Something is definitely being done for the control of growing air pollution,” said Bhusan Tuladhar, an environmentalist. “But the measures being taken are not sufficient, and we cannot expect results from the actions being taken at present.” Promotion of electric vehicles, restriction of open burning by the KMC, pothole repairs on major roads are among the mitigation measures taken so far. Experts say that without coordination among all agencies concerned, there will be no relief from polluted air, especially during the winter and dry season. On Sunday morning air quality in most places of the Kathmandu Valley reached a very unhealthy level. According to the air quality data of IQAir, a Swiss group that collects air pollution data worldwide, PM2.5 levels in Jadibuti area reached 199 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3) followed by Jawalakhel at 182, Tankeshwar 176, Tarakeshwar 174, Nagarjun 174, Birendra Military School-Bhaktapur 174, Teku 172, Gaushala 168, and Lazimpat at 168 micrograms per cubic metre. PM2.5 refers to particulate matter (solid or liquid droplets) that is less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter. It is among the most dangerous pollutants that can get past the nose and throat to penetrate the lungs and even the bloodstream. The particles are small and are also likely to stay suspended in the air for a long time, increasing the chances of people inhaling them. The PM2.5 concentration recorded on Monday is many times higher than the World Health Organisation’s annual guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic metre. Air quality experts say the rise in the air pollution level is just a start, as the harvesting season has just started in the Tarai region, where farmers often burn stubble and other agricultural residue to prepare fields for new crops. Along with this, burning other types of waste also pushes up air pollution levels. “As the temperature declines further, people start burning waste materials and lighting outdoor fires, which also contribute to air pollution,” said Bhupendra Das, an air quality expert. “Without all stakeholders including local governments, taking initiatives to prevent open burning and other pollution-control measures, improving air quality is almost impossible.” Experts say stubble burning after harvest, household waste burning, emissions from brick kilns, and forest fires are major contributors to air pollution. They say that local governments should take strict action to prevent waste burning, raise awareness about the risks of polluted air, prevent the use of low-grade coal in brick kilns, and provide training and equipment to control forest fires. “Without coordination among agencies, curbing air pollution is almost impossible,” said Das. Air pollution has emerged as the number one risk factor for death and disability in Nepal, surpassing malnutrition and tobacco,according to the World Bank. Several studies carried out in the past in Nepal also showed that toxic air takes a huge toll on public health and cuts short people’s lives.

Air Pollution

Mitigation Measures

['Air Quality', 'Kathmandu Valley', 'Pothole Repairs', 'Open Burning', 'Vehicle Emission Testing', 'Electric Vehicles', 'PM2.5 Levels']

-0.7

Negative

['air pollution']

[]

['Kathmandu Metropolitan City', 'Nepal Electricity Authority', 'Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited', 'Project Implementation Directorate', 'IQAir', 'World Health Organisation', 'World Bank']

['Ram Chandra Phuyal', 'Sarita Rai', 'Bhusan Tuladhar', 'Bhupendra Das']

null

[]

['vehicle emission testing']

5,082

17

72

192

null

28

2

{'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 'Neutral', 'Nepal Electricity Authority': 'Negative', 'Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited': 'Negative', 'Project Implementation Directorate': 'Negative', 'IQAir': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'World Bank': 'Neutral'}

{'Ram Chandra Phuyal': 'Positive', 'Sarita Rai': 'Positive', 'Bhusan Tuladhar': 'Neutral', 'Bhupendra Das': 'Positive'}

{'vehicle emission testing': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 0, 'Nepal Electricity Authority': -0.4, 'Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited': -0.4, 'Project Implementation Directorate': -0.4, 'IQAir': 0, 'World Health Organisation': 0, 'World Bank': 0}

{'Ram Chandra Phuyal': 0.3, 'Sarita Rai': 0.4, 'Bhusan Tuladhar': 0, 'Bhupendra Das': 0.35}

{'vehicle emission testing': 0.42}

{}

Physical

{'air pollution': 'addressed'}

['Kathmandu Valley', 'Tarai region', 'Jadibuti', 'Jawalakhel', 'Tankeshwar', 'Tarakeshwar', 'Nagarjun', 'Bhaktapur', 'Teku', 'Gaushala', 'Lazimpat', 'Nepal']

157

{'locations': {}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/07/air-pollution-spikes-in-valley-experts-stress-coordinated-action

2025-12-08T06:49:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-08T00:00:00

Air pollution spikes in Kathmandu Valley. Experts call for coordinated action

Post Report

2025-12-07T00:00:00

Kathmandu

As air quality in the Kathmandu Valley has begun to worsen with the onset of winter, authorities have started taking various mitigation measures including repairs on major roads to reduce dust. Although the Road Division, Kathmandu, has begun filling potholes on roads it oversees, much of the Valley’s road network falls under several other agencies including the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), Bagmati Civilisation, and the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority. But these agencies have yet to repair the stretches they oversee, even though potholes are a major source of dust pollution. “Even on roads under our jurisdiction, we are not fixing the stretches where the Nepal Electricity Authority is digging to lay underground cables or where water pipes laid by the Project Implementation Directorate under the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited have leaked and may need to be dug up again,” said Ram Chandra Phuyal, information officer at the division. “We are doing our job, but we don’t know what other agencies are doing.” A few weeks ago, the KMC had issued a public notice warning residents not to burn waste materials, saying that doing so further exacerbates air pollution. “We started preventing open burning and waste burning in our jurisdiction from last year and have also taken action in the past,” said Sarita Rai, chief of the Environment Department at the KMC. “We have not seen anyone burning waste this time. We have effectively controlled waste burning within our jurisdiction, but we are not the only local unit in the Valley, and polluted air is not generated from our area alone.” The city office also said it will soon resume vehicle emission testing, which has been halted for months. But experts say patchwork measures—repairing potholes, preventing open burning in a few local units, or taking actions only in certain areas—will not help curb the rising air pollution. They say coordination among all stakeholder agencies, uniformity in actions, and shared responsibility are a must to tackle the growing air pollution. “Something is definitely being done for the control of growing air pollution,” said Bhusan Tuladhar, an environmentalist. “But the measures being taken are not sufficient, and we cannot expect results from the actions being taken at present.” Promotion of electric vehicles, restriction of open burning by the KMC, pothole repairs on major roads are among the mitigation measures taken so far. Experts say that without coordination among all agencies concerned, there will be no relief from polluted air, especially during the winter and dry season. On Sunday morning air quality in most places of the Kathmandu Valley reached a very unhealthy level. According to the air quality data of IQAir, a Swiss group that collects air pollution data worldwide, PM2.5 levels in Jadibuti area reached 199 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3) followed by Jawalakhel at 182, Tankeshwar 176, Tarakeshwar 174, Nagarjun 174, Birendra Military School-Bhaktapur 174, Teku 172, Gaushala 168, and Lazimpat at 168 micrograms per cubic metre. PM2.5 refers to particulate matter (solid or liquid droplets) that is less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter. It is among the most dangerous pollutants that can get past the nose and throat to penetrate the lungs and even the bloodstream. The particles are small and are also likely to stay suspended in the air for a long time, increasing the chances of people inhaling them. The PM2.5 concentration recorded on Monday is many times higher than the World Health Organisation’s annual guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic metre. Air quality experts say the rise in the air pollution level is just a start, as the harvesting season has just started in the Tarai region, where farmers often burn stubble and other agricultural residue to prepare fields for new crops. Along with this, burning other types of waste also pushes up air pollution levels. “As the temperature declines further, people start burning waste materials and lighting outdoor fires, which also contribute to air pollution,” said Bhupendra Das, an air quality expert. “Without all stakeholders including local governments, taking initiatives to prevent open burning and other pollution-control measures, improving air quality is almost impossible.” Experts say stubble burning after harvest, household waste burning, emissions from brick kilns, and forest fires are major contributors to air pollution. They say that local governments should take strict action to prevent waste burning, raise awareness about the risks of polluted air, prevent the use of low-grade coal in brick kilns, and provide training and equipment to control forest fires. “Without coordination among agencies, curbing air pollution is almost impossible,” said Das. Air pollution has emerged as the number one risk factor for death and disability in Nepal, surpassing malnutrition and tobacco,according to the World Bank. Several studies carried out in the past in Nepal also showed that toxic air takes a huge toll on public health and cuts short people’s lives.

Air Pollution

Mitigation Measures

['air quality', 'pollution control', 'mitigation measures', 'public health']

-0.7

Negative

['air pollution']

[]

['Nepal Electricity Authority', 'Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited', 'Project Implementation Directorate', 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC)', 'Bagmati Civilisation', 'Kathmandu Valley Development Authority', 'World Health Organisation', 'World Bank', 'IQAir']

['Ram Chandra Phuyal', 'Sarita Rai', 'Bhusan Tuladhar', 'Bhupendra Das']

null

[]

['vehicle emission testing']

5,082

17

72

264

null

28

2

{'Nepal Electricity Authority': 'Negative', 'Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited': 'Negative', 'Project Implementation Directorate': 'Negative', 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC)': 'Neutral', 'Bagmati Civilisation': 'Negative', 'Kathmandu Valley Development Authority': 'Negative', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'World Bank': 'Neutral', 'IQAir': 'Neutral'}

{'Ram Chandra Phuyal': 'Neutral', 'Sarita Rai': 'Positive', 'Bhusan Tuladhar': 'Positive', 'Bhupendra Das': 'Positive'}

{'vehicle emission testing': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Nepal Electricity Authority': -0.8, 'Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited': -0.8, 'Project Implementation Directorate': -0.8, 'Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC)': 0.0, 'Bagmati Civilisation': -0.8, 'Kathmandu Valley Development Authority': -0.8, 'World Health Organisation': 0.0, 'World Bank': 0.0, 'IQAir': 0.0}

{'Ram Chandra Phuyal': 0.0, 'Sarita Rai': 0.7, 'Bhusan Tuladhar': 0.5, 'Bhupendra Das': 0.6}

{'vehicle emission testing': 0.42}

{}

Physical

{'air pollution': 'not addressed'}

['Kathmandu Valley', 'Jadibuti', 'Jawalakhel', 'Tankeshwar', 'Tarakeshwar', 'Nagarjun', 'Bhaktapur', 'Teku', 'Gaushala', 'Lazimpat', 'Tarai', 'Nepal']

150

{'locations': {}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/18/scrub-typhus-has-topped-dengue-in-nepal-this-year

2025-12-18T19:49:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-18T00:00:00

Scrub typhus has topped dengue in Nepal this year

Post Report

2025-12-18T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Last week, a man from Sarlahi district reached the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, after other hospitals could not identify the cause of his fever, which continued for around two weeks. The patient, who is in his early 30’s, told doctors that he sought treatment at multiple private hospitals in Kathmandu but neither the fever subsided nor the cause of the problems diagnosed. “We suspected scrub typhus infection and the test confirmed it,” said Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, chief of the Clinical Research Unit at the hospital. “Infection in the winter season indicates that the disease is continuously spreading, even in Tarai districts.” Scrub typhus, or bush typhus, is a potentially fatal infectious disease caused by the parasite Orientia tsutsugamushi, a mite-borne bacterium. It spreads to humans when bitten by infected chiggers (larval mites) found in mice. The disease, which was unknown until a decade ago in Nepal, has now emerged as a major public health problem. This year, it surpassed dengue and became the country’s leading vector-borne disease in terms of morbidity. Officials concede, there are deaths from the scrub typhus infection, but doctors often fail to identify scrub typhus deaths as the cause since patients suffer other complications, including multiorgan failure. Nepal saw a surge in scrub typhus cases after the calamitous 2015 earthquakes that killed nearly 9,000 persons across the country. Three months after the earthquakes, the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, alerted the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division about six children with unusual fevers and severe respiratory problems. Serum samples were collected for subsequent tests in Kathmandu and Bangkok, which confirmed a scrub typhus outbreak. By then, four children had already died in the course of the treatment. By the end of the year, 101 cases were confirmed in 16 districts, and four more people succumbed to the disease. The magnitude of the outbreak escalated in the fiscal year 2024-025,when 16,597 people across the country were infected. Of the total cases of infection, Lumbini Province recorded 4,322 cases, the highest number in the country, followed by Sudurpaschim province (3,746 cases), Karnali province (2,539), Koshi province (2,119), Bagmati Province (1,838), Gandaki province (1,725) and Madhesh province (308). The number could be higher still, as all cases of infection do not enter government records. What alarms health officials is that people living in urban settings are also getting infected. Until a few years ago, it was believed that only those residing in rural areas or those working in farms and fields were at high risk. “This year scrub typhus surpassed dengue and became the top vector-borne disease in terms of morbidity,” said Gokarna Dahal, chief of the Vector Control Section at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. “We don’t know the exact number of deaths from infection, as patients often die from multiple complications including multiorgan failure.” Since there is no vaccine available, officials say that they have ensured common antibiotics, such as doxycycline and azithromycin, in state-run health facilities. These medicines are also on the government’s essential drugs list and distributed free to health facilities across the country, and can cure the disease. However, many health workers, including doctors, lack sufficient knowledge to diagnose scrub typhus. Many health facilities also lack the reagents needed for testing. Doctors can diagnose the disease based on symptoms, but the risk of misdiagnosis is high, as scrub typhus symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses. And waiting for lab results before starting treatment can be dangerous. It can take about a week to get test results and, by that time, the patient can fall into coma and suffer multiorgan failure. Symptoms of the disease include high fever, headache, abdominal pain, backache, joint and muscle pain, red rash, nausea and vomiting. Patients with severe illness may develop bleeding, which could lead to organ failure. The infection can lead to respiratory distress, inflammation of brain, lungs, kidney failure and then multiorgan failure. If not treated immediately, it can be fatal.

Scrub Typhus Outbreak

Vector-Borne Disease

['Scrub Typhus', 'Infectious Disease', 'Vector-Borne Disease', 'Morbidity', 'Mortality', 'Nepal', 'Public Health']

-0.8

Negative

['scrub typhus', 'dengue', 'multiorgan failure']

['Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital', 'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences']

['Epidemiology and Disease Control Division']

['Dr Sher Bahadur Pun', 'Gokarna Dahal']

null

['doxycycline', 'azithromycin']

[]

4,262

48

40

45

null

2

31

96

{'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun': 'Positive', 'Gokarna Dahal': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 'Positive', 'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences': 'Positive'}

{'Epidemiology and Disease Control Division': 0.0}

{'Dr Sher Bahadur Pun': 0.57, 'Gokarna Dahal': 0.55}

{}

{'Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital': 0.82, 'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences': 0.71}

Physical

{'scrub typhus': 'addressed', 'dengue': 'not addressed', 'multiorgan failure': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Sarlahi district', 'Kathmandu', 'Lumbini Province', 'Sudurpaschim province', 'Karnali province', 'Koshi province', 'Bagmati Province', 'Gandaki province', 'Madhesh province', 'Tarai districts']

204

{'location_by_disease': {'Sarlahi': ['scrub typhus'], 'Kathmandu': ['scrub typhus'], 'Sunsari': ['scrub typhus']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/18/health-ministry-to-seek-budget-for-mass-je-vaccination-drive-in-2026

2025-12-18T06:42:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-18T00:00:00

Health ministry to seek budget for mass JE vaccination drive in 2026

Post Report

2025-12-18T00:00:00

Kathmandu

The Ministry of Health and Population has directed the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services to prepare a detailed assessment so as to launch a mass immunisation drive against the Japanese encephalitis disease in 2026. The ministry’s move comes amid excessive death and severity rate from the deadly disease on the unvaccinated population. “With the assessment report, we will also seek a budget for the campaign,” an official at the department said, asking not to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the media. “We have tried our best to secure aid for the campaign, but no development partners have shown interest to finance the programme. We believe that it is the responsibility of the government to save the lives of the people.” JE is a viral brain infection, endemic to Asia and parts of the Western Pacific. According to the World Health Organisation, it is a mosquito-borne flavivirus belonging to the same family as dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and West Nile viruses. The virus kills a third of those who fall ill and leaves up to a half of those who survive with severe life-long disabilities, according to the UN health body. At least 35 people died and over 175 others have been infected with the disease in Nepal since June this year. The killer disease has spread to 175 local units of 45 districts. Last year, 23 people succumbed to JE, including one in Kathmandu Valley, and over 80 people were infected. New data from the Immunisation Section of the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services shows that the majority—76 percent—of JE related deaths occurred in people above 40 years of age, meaning that all deceased were unvaccinated. The deadly virus first appeared in eastern Nepal in June and gradually spread to the western parts of the country. Of the 45 affected districts, 23 are hill districts. Lumbini province reported 11 JE deaths and 55 infections, the highest in the country, followed by Gandaki province with five deaths and 34 infections, and Bagmati province with eight deaths and 24 infections. Similarly, Koshi province reported four deaths and 23 infections, Madhesh province three deaths and 17 infections, Sudurpaschim province two deaths and 15 infections, and Karnali province one death and seven infections. The Post could not establish the address of one of the deceased. The number of reported cases could be just the tip of the iceberg, as tests are usually carried out only on hospitalised patients with severe conditions, officials say. Seventy percent of lab-confirmed JE cases have been detected in those above 15 years of age. Doctors say complications from JE infection could cause permanent injuries to the brain and the nervous system. As there is no specific cure, treatment focuses on managing symptoms. However, safe and effective vaccines have been developed to prevent infection. Health officials said that their attempts to persuade development partners, including the World Health Organisation, to support a mass JE vaccination campaign have not succeeded, as JE vaccination is not in priority of the aid agencies including the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations. “Yes, officials are preparing an assessment report including estimated cost for the mass campaign,” said Dr Ramesh Kanta Adhikari, senior immunisation expert and the chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee. “We also hope the Chinese government helps with the immunisation drive, as Chinese companies manufacture JE vaccines.” Experts say that the unvaccinated population are at high risk of getting infected and severe as data show most of the victims are unvaccinated. Health officials also agreed that vaccination could save dozens of lives every year from JE infection. “Yes, our own experience shows, vaccination is an effective means for control of JE infection, severity, life-long disability and deaths,” said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division. In 2005, JE killed nearly 2,000 people in Nepal—mostly children in districts in the southern plains. Nepal started administering the vaccine in 2006, eight years before the World Health Organisation officially issued prequalification certification, due to high rates of infection and deaths from the virus at the time. In the first phase, all populations of the highly affected four districts—Banke, Bardiya, Dang, and Kailali—were vaccinated. Later, the programme was expanded to 19 other affected districts, targeting children under 15. The government integrated the JE vaccine into routine immunisation in 2015. Even then, people continue to die, and dozens get infected every year. The JE virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Culex mosquitoes. Pigs and ducks are considered natural reservoirs of the virus. An estimated 12.5 million people are thought to be at high risk of JE infection in Nepal.

Health

Vaccination Drive

['Japanese Encephalitis', 'Mass Immunisation', 'Vaccination Campaign', 'Mosquito-Borne Disease', 'Nepal']

-0.6

Negative

['Japanese encephalitis', 'dengue', 'Zika', 'yellow fever', 'West Nile viruses']

[]

['Ministry of Health and Population', 'Department of Health Services', 'Family Welfare Division', 'World Health Organisation', 'Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations', 'National Immunisation Advisory Committee']

['Ramesh Kanta Adhikari', 'Abhiyan Gautam']

null

['JE vaccines']

[]

4,931

80

43

220

null

2

15

2

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Positive', 'Department of Health Services': 'Positive', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Positive', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations': 'Negative', 'National Immunisation Advisory Committee': 'Positive'}

{'Ramesh Kanta Adhikari': 'Positive', 'Abhiyan Gautam': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Ministry of Health and Population': 0.85, 'Department of Health Services': 0.65, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.75, 'World Health Organisation': 0.0, 'Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations': -0.65, 'National Immunisation Advisory Committee': 0.8}

{'Ramesh Kanta Adhikari': 0.72, 'Abhiyan Gautam': 0.71}

{}

Physical

{'Japanese encephalitis': 'addressed', 'dengue': 'not addressed', 'Zika': 'not addressed', 'yellow fever': 'not addressed', 'West Nile viruses': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Asia', 'Western Pacific', 'Kathmandu Valley', 'Lumbini province', 'Gandaki province', 'Bagmati province', 'Koshi province', 'Madhesh province', 'Sudurpaschim province', 'Karnali province', 'Banke', 'Bardiya', 'Dang', 'Kailali']

238

{'location_by_disease': {'Kathmandu': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Banke': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Bardiya': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Dang': ['Japanese encephalitis'], 'Kailali': ['Japanese encephalitis']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/12/kmc-steps-in-to-upgrade-services-at-three-major-public-hospitals

2025-12-13T05:05:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-18T00:00:00

KMC steps in to upgrade services at Capital’s three major public hospitals

Post Report

2025-12-12T00:00:00

Kathmandu

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is investing Rs90 million to upgrade services at three major public hospitals in Kathmandu. Officials at the Health Department under the city office said that they have allocated Rs55 million to set up two modular operation theatres at the Kanti Children’s Hospital, Maharajgunj. “We have been working to set up two modular operation theatres at the Kanti Children’s Hospital,” said Depak Kumar KC, chief of the department. “We will also set up a post-recovery ward at the hospital, where patients will be transferred from the surgery rooms.” A modular OT is a prefabricated, fully equipped surgical unit that includes hermetically sealed walls, HEPA air filtration, integrated lighting and a medical gas system. Air or gas cannot escape from the hermetically sealed walls of the operating theatres. Likewise, HEPA air filtration theoretically captures 99.7 percent of dust and other airborne particles. Officials say the existing operating theatres at Kanti Children’s Hospital, the national referral centre, are only of a conservative type and lack proper infection prevention measures. Doctors say the risk of infection after surgery is higher in traditional operation threatres. They say that the hospital’s existing post-recovery room is not in good condition. Along with the assistance to the Kanti Children’s Hospital, the city office has also been working to upgrade the outpatient department(OPD) service of the adjoining Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. For that, the metropolis will spend Rs25 million. The grant will be used to implement digital patient management in the OPD service, leveraging technology to simplify administrative processes, enhance patient experiences, and improve overall efficiency in health care delivery. “Digital patient management involves online ticketing, electronic health records, patient portals, and automated check-in systems, which reduce manual paperwork, enable digital billings and payments, and provide automated reminders and notifications, among others,” said Dr Bibas Neupane, an official at the health department. “As per the request of the hospital administration, we have decided to set up the system and have also finalised the tender.” The city office has also agreed to allocate Rs16 million to strengthen the coronary care unit at the Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre, which lies within the same compound as TU Teaching Hospital. According to Neupane, the metropolis has also provided equipment to Bir Hospital, including ventilators, and grants to the Thapathali-based Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital. “Improving the service quality of public hospitals within the metropolis’ jurisdiction is our priority, as hundreds of thousands of patients from across the country visit these hospitals for treatment,” said Neupane. Apart from providing grants and equipment to hospitals inside the metropolis, the city office had earlier this year donated 35 ambulances to local units in remote districts of the country. The metropolis spent Rs2 million for each Mahindra Bolero SUV, which was later turned into B-category ambulance. The metropolis has already begun free ultrasound services at urban health promotion centres in wards 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 26, and 30. The health department has also started free cervical cancer screening at Bir Hospital.

Healthcare

Hospital Upgrades

['Kanti Children’s Hospital', 'modular operation theatres', 'digital patient management', 'coronary care unit', 'ultrasound services', 'cervical cancer screening']

0.8

Positive

['infection', 'cervical cancer']

['Kanti Children’s Hospital', 'Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital', 'Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre', 'Bir Hospital', 'Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital']

['Kathmandu Metropolitan City', 'Health Department']

['Depak Kumar KC', 'Dr Bibas Neupane']

null

[]

3,376

32

38

52

null

2

189

{'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 'Positive', 'Health Department': 'Positive'}

{'Depak Kumar KC': 'Positive', 'Dr Bibas Neupane': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Kanti Children’s Hospital': 'Positive', 'Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital': 'Positive', 'Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre': 'Positive', 'Bir Hospital': 'Positive', 'Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital': 'Positive'}

{'Kathmandu Metropolitan City': 0.95, 'Health Department': 0.9}

{'Depak Kumar KC': 0.85, 'Dr Bibas Neupane': 0.9}

{}

{'Kanti Children’s Hospital': 0.85, 'Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital': 0.92, 'Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre': 0.91, 'Bir Hospital': 0.88, 'Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital': 0.88}

Physical

{'infection': 'not addressed', 'cervical cancer': 'not addressed'}

['Kathmandu']

13

{'location_by_disease': {'Kathmandu': ['infection', 'cervical cancer', 'coronary disease']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/11/nepali-ai-tool-detects-14-chest-ailments-through-a-single-x-ray

2025-12-12T07:02:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-18T00:00:00

Nepali AI tool detects 14 chest ailments through a single X-ray

Post Report

2025-12-11T00:00:00

null

The Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Maharajgunj, has begun trialling the artificial intelligence tool “ChestGuru” in its emergency chest X-ray system with the aim to improve diagnosis and care. Doctors at the hospital said that the home-grown AI tool can detect 14 different ailments, including tuberculosis and pneumonia, at once through a single chest X-ray. “This AI tool is helping doctors diagnose problems more easily. Even junior doctors can make accurate diagnoses without help from their seniors, who may not be available all the time,” Dr Ghanashyam Gurung, professor of radiology at TUTH, told the Post. The AI system was developed by Nepali health-tech company ‘Second Eye’, initiated by engineering students. Doctors say the software can instantly read the chest X-ray and detect multiple chest diseases, including tuberculosis, chronic respiratory problems, pneumonia, and lung cancer, among others, within seconds. “Sometimes even doctors can miss the problems and send patients home without a proper diagnosis,” said Gurung. “The use of AI helps reduce errors and ensures diagnosis.” The system allows doctors to view images directly on laptops, so patients no longer need to carry fragile X-ray films. In overcrowded emergency rooms, ChestGuru helps teams prioritise patients with life-threatening conditions. By flagging urgent cases, the tool allows faster triage, reduces conflict in stressful environments, and improves patient safety. Developers say ChestGuru fundamentally changes the care experience. Traditional workflows often require patients to stand in long queues to collect printed X-ray films and handwritten reports. This leads to delays in treatment, repeated travel, lost wages, and in many cases, complete loss to follow-up. “This tool acts as a public health intelligence engine, and it offers strong operational and financial advantages, as health facilities can view imaging records without reliance on expensive high-bandwidth internet systems,” said Dr Latika Giri, founder of Second Eye who also works at TUTH. “This AI tool could be very useful in the peripheral health facilities, which often lack trained human resources.” Developers claimed that healthcare workers can review AI’s interpretations, edit findings, add clinical context, and automatically generate standardised reports. These digital reports can be printed, shared across departments, or stored for future visits, allowing smoother referrals and reducing the longstanding problem of patients being lost to follow-up. “With the AI tool we developed, report generation is possible on the same day, which ultimately helps doctors decide when to start treatment,” said Samyam Giri, an engineering student and one of the developers. Before being used at TUTH, the system underwent scientific validation using real-world imaging from outpatient, emergency, inpatient, and intensive care units. According to Giri, the results demonstrated sufficient safety and performance for frontline clinical use. Developers said the interface supports the Nepali language, and this enabled nurses, health assistants, and medical officers to use the tool without linguistic barriers. Along with engineering students, medical students and clinicians from the TU Institute of Medicine were involved in designing the software, Giri said.

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

AI-powered Chest X-ray Diagnosis

['ChestGuru', 'AI tool', 'chest X-ray', 'diagnosis', 'healthcare', 'Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital']

0.8

Positive

['tuberculosis', 'pneumonia', 'chronic respiratory problems', 'lung cancer']

['Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital']

['Second Eye', 'Tribhuvan University', 'TU Institute of Medicine']

['Ghanashyam Gurung', 'Latika Giri', 'Samyam Giri']

null

[]

3,343

76

51

66

null

2

42

{'Second Eye': 'Positive', 'Tribhuvan University': 'Positive', 'TU Institute of Medicine': 'Positive'}

{'Ghanashyam Gurung': 'Positive', 'Latika Giri': 'Positive', 'Samyam Giri': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital': 'Positive'}

{'Second Eye': 0.85, 'Tribhuvan University': 0.8, 'TU Institute of Medicine': 0.7}

{'Ghanashyam Gurung': 0.86, 'Latika Giri': 0.88, 'Samyam Giri': 0.84}

{}

{'Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital': 0.92}

Physical

{'tuberculosis': 'not addressed', 'pneumonia': 'not addressed', 'chronic respiratory problems': 'not addressed', 'lung cancer': 'not addressed'}

['Maharajgunj', 'Nepal']

24

{'location_by_disease': {'Kathmandu': ['tuberculosis', 'pneumonia', 'chronic respiratory problems', 'lung cancer']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/28/village-nurses-and-midwives-are-saving-mothers-despite-government-lowering-mortality-targets

2025-12-29T06:47:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-29T00:00:00

Village nurses are saving mothers despite government lowering mortality targets

Arjun Poudel

2025-12-28T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Last month, a 24-year-old woman from ward 5 of Champadevi Rural Municipality in Okhaldhunga district reached a nearby health post with ectopic bleeding and pelvic pain. Health workers there performed an ultrasound, which showed placenta previa, a condition where the placenta attaches low in the uterus. “We referred the woman to the district hospital, but she returned home instead and only sought treatment after several days when the pain became severe,” said Melina Magar, an auxiliary nurse midwife, who attended the patient. “Health workers saved the mother’s life but could not save the foetus.” Magar is among hundreds of health workers serving in remote villages throughout the country who work tirelessly to save the lives of mothers and children at a time when the government has scaled back its target for maternal and newborn health. The National Planning Commission has reset almost all Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) targets, effectively reducing international commitments the government earlier promised to achieve by 2030. The SDGs, a follow-up on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), aim to end poverty, hunger and all forms of inequality in the world by 2030. Nepal has committed to meeting them. The government had committed to allocate at least seven percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) to healthcare expenditure, but this has now been revised to five percent. As per the new revised target, maternal mortality rate will be reduced to 110 per 100,000 births from 70 committed earlier. Nepal has cut maternal deaths by over 70 percent since 2000, according to the World Health Organisation. The UN health body, in its report released in April, stated that 142 Nepali women die from maternity-related complications per 100,000 live births. A study carried out in 2021 by the Central Bureau of Statistics (renamed National Statistics Office in October 2022) had shown 151 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. “We don’t know what the government decides. What we know is deaths of mothers and children must be stopped,” said Durga Laxmi Khatri, a senior auxiliary nurse midwife serving at a health post in ward 14 of Katari Municipality in Udayapur district. “We are working day and night to prevent deaths.” A few months ago, Khatri found a woman with polyhydramnios (a condition in which pregnant women have excess amniotic fluid) when she carried out ultrasound during an outreach health camp. The woman was referred to Katari Hospital immediately and health workers there referred her to the district hospital at Gaighat. “The woman did not go anywhere until her fetus died in the womb,” said Khatri. “I myself accompanied the woman later to hospital, where she underwent surgery. Her health is good now.” Life-threatening complications such as ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilised egg grows outside the uterus), polyhydramnios, shoulder dystocia (baby shoulder gets stuck), oligohydramnious (too little amniotic fluid that restrict foetus growth), placenta previa (placenta covers the cervix), placenta abruption (placenta detaches before delivery), and breech presentation (baby is positioned feet or buttocks down instead of head), among others, risk the lives of both mothers and babies. Both Magar and Khatri received 21-day portable ultrasound training from the Solukhumbu Polytechnical Academy, through which they have been identifying such risks in pregnant women in health facilities and in villages, where they reach every month with the device. A report titled ‘Effectiveness of Focussed Obstetric Ultrasound Training to Nurses from Remote Health Posts to Improve Pregnancy Outcome and Reduce Morbidity’ stated that focused obstetric ultrasound in rural and under-resourced communities in Nepal has the potential to improve access and quality of healthcare services and can result in an increased uptake of antenatal care service utilisation. In Sudurpaschim province, the use of portable ultrasound devices by nurses and auxiliary nurse midwives has saved hundreds of lives. “Studies show that ultrasound training for nurses is effective in minimising preventable maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity,” said Dr Mingmar Gyelzen Sherpa, former director general of the Department of Health Services. “We can save even more lives if we could train more health workers in rural areas.” Following success in Sudurpaschim province, the academy has started imparting portable ultrasound training to health workers in Koshi province, where maternal deaths are high (at 161 per 100,000 births) compared to the national average. Maternal deaths in Sudurpaschim province have declined dramatically—130 per 100,000 live births, which is less than the national average. The province is only behind Bagmati province, where 98 women die per 100,000 live births. “We are committed to saving the lives of mothers and newborns,” said Sherpa. “We can achieve SDG targets if we maintain the current pace and promote methods like screening pregnancies at the village-level and identifying risks in advance.” Public health experts say several health targets under SDGs, including maternal, neonatal, and under-five mortality rates are achievable even if measures taken at present are continued. They say that the government cannot escape its responsibilities by simply resetting targets. “Preventing existing maternal and child deaths is our responsibility, and we cannot escape it under any pretext,” said Dr Yasho Vardhan Pradhan, former director general at the Department of Health Services. “Along with international obligations, we have to fulfill our duty to the people, and international organisations will welcome further progress.”

Maternal Health

Reducing Maternal Mortality

['maternal mortality', 'ectopic pregnancy', 'placenta previa', 'ultrasound training', 'health workers', 'Sustainable Development Goals']

-0.6

Negative

['ectopic bleeding', 'pelvic pain', 'placenta previa', 'polyhydramnios', 'ectopic pregnancy', 'shoulder dystocia', 'oligohydramnious', 'placenta abruption', 'breech presentation']

['district hospital', 'Katari Hospital']

['National Planning Commission', 'World Health Organisation', 'Central Bureau of Statistics', 'National Statistics Office', 'Solukhumbu Polytechnical Academy', 'Department of Health Services']

['Melina Magar', 'Durga Laxmi Khatri', 'Mingmar Gyelzen Sherpa', 'Yasho Vardhan Pradhan']

null

[]

['Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs)', 'Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)']

5,684

179

89

192

null

78

2

40

{'National Planning Commission': 'Negative', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral', 'Central Bureau of Statistics': 'Neutral', 'National Statistics Office': 'Neutral', 'Solukhumbu Polytechnical Academy': 'Positive', 'Department of Health Services': 'Positive'}

{'Melina Magar': 'Positive', 'Durga Laxmi Khatri': 'Positive', 'Mingmar Gyelzen Sherpa': 'Positive', 'Yasho Vardhan Pradhan': 'Positive'}

{'Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs)': 'Negative', 'Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)': 'Neutral'}

{'district hospital': 'Neutral', 'Katari Hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'National Planning Commission': -0.85, 'World Health Organisation': 0.0, 'Central Bureau of Statistics': 0.0, 'National Statistics Office': 0.0, 'Solukhumbu Polytechnical Academy': 0.85, 'Department of Health Services': 0.85}

{'Melina Magar': 0.86, 'Durga Laxmi Khatri': 0.84, 'Mingmar Gyelzen Sherpa': 0.88, 'Yasho Vardhan Pradhan': 0.85}

{'Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs)': -0.62, 'Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)': 0.0}

{'district hospital': 0.0, 'Katari Hospital': 0.0}

Physical

{'ectopic bleeding': 'addressed', 'pelvic pain': 'addressed', 'placenta previa': 'addressed', 'polyhydramnios': 'addressed', 'ectopic pregnancy': 'not addressed', 'shoulder dystocia': 'not addressed', 'oligohydramnious': 'not addressed', 'placenta abruption': 'not addressed', 'breech presentation': 'not addressed'}

['Champadevi Rural Municipality', 'Okhaldhunga district', 'Nepal', 'Sudurpaschim province', 'Koshi province', 'Bagmati province', 'Udayapur district']

150

{'location_by_disease': {'Okhaldhunga': ['ectopic pregnancy', 'placenta previa'], 'Udayapur': ['polyhydramnios']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/26/state-run-food-company-dismisses-rumours-about-fortified-rice

2025-12-26T18:48:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-29T00:00:00

State-run food company dismisses rumours about fortified rice

Post Report

2025-12-26T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Two years after introducing fortified rice in the malnutrition-hit Karnali province, the state-run Food Management and Trading Company has responded to rumours and misconceptions about its rice. After some claims suggested that the rice tastes different or even contains plastics, the company dismissed them as rumours and asked the public to try it themselves before believing such claims The company has been fortifying rice with essential vitamins and minerals at five places across the country. Besides Surkhet in the Karnali province, the company has started rice fortification in Rajapur of Bardiya, Janakpur, Thapathali in Kathmandu, and in Kailali. It blends iron, zinc, vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, B12, and folic acid into commonly consumed rice varieties. “Micronutrient-blended rice is beneficial for everyone,” said Ramesh Acharya, chief executive officer of the company. “Using the rice blended with crucial minerals and vitamins helps address growing micronutrient deficiencies, especially among small children and elderly people.” The company said it has so far fortified around 11,000 metric tons of rice. Officials say three varieties—sona mansuli, jeera masino, and local rice—are being fortified with the eight micronutrients provided by the World Food Programme. The company is also working to set up a factory to produce these micronutrients. “Detailed project reports for the micronutrient plant to be set up in Hetauda have been completed, and we are in the process of issuing a tender for machines,” said Neupane. “We also plan to export micronutrients to other countries, once production starts.” Health officials say micronutrient deficiencies are not limited to remote regions, and those living in big cities, including the Kathmandu Valley, also suffer from health problems linked to deficiencies of crucial micronutrients, including vitamin B12. Officials hope that various problems caused by micronutrient deficiencies will decline once people start eating the fortified rice. Officials say consumers do not have to pay extra for the fortified rice, which is available at the company’s outlets. Malnutrition is considered a silent health crisis in Nepal. The country has made significant progress in reducing stunting among children under five, which fell from 57 percent in 2001 to 25 percent in 2022, according to the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022. Malnutrition plays a major role in the under-five mortality rate, according to the nutrition section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. Experts say malnutrition also hinders children’s mental development, and eventually affects the country’s economic health by weakening intellectual capacity, reducing productivity in adulthood, and increasing vulnerability to diseases. Although the 2022 survey showed some improvement in the country’s overall nutrition status, progress is not the same in all provinces. The report showed a large number of children from certain provinces suffer from wasting—the most immediate, visible, and life-threatening form of malnutrition. Wasting, a debilitating disease that causes muscle and fat tissues to waste away among children under five, decreased from 11 percent in 2001 to eight percent in 2022. Wasting or underweight for one’s height in children, if not treated properly and on time, is associated with a higher mortality risk, according to the WHO. The national average of wasting was eight percent in 2022. Nutritionists say that, based on the 2022 survey, wasting represents a failure to get adequate nutrition in the period immediately before the study. Experts say malnutrition also affects children’s mental growth, which in turn undermines the country’s economic health. It weakens intellectual capacity, limits productivity in adulthood, and increases vulnerability to certain diseases. Malnourished children will be stunted if they do not receive treatment on time. Such children are also prone to be affected by multiple non-communicable diseases later in life. “Various measures are being taken to address the improvement of the nutrition status,” said Lila Bikram Thapa, chief of the Nutrition Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “Micronutrient fortification in rice is one among several measures being taken to tackle the existing malnutrition problem. We hope that this measure will be effective.” Nepal also has an international obligation to improve the condition of malnourished children. The country needs to reduce stunting to 15 percent from the existing 25 percent by 2030 in order to meet the SDG targets, wasting to four percent from the current eight percent, underweight condition to 10 percent from the existing 19, and anaemia to 10 percent from more than 43 percent at present.

Malnutrition

Rice Fortification

['Malnutrition', 'Rice Fortification', 'Micronutrient Deficiencies', 'Child Health', 'Nepal']

0.7

Positive

['malnutrition', 'wasting', 'stunting', 'anaemia', 'non-communicable diseases']

[]

['Food Management and Trading Company', 'World Food Programme', 'Family Welfare Division', 'Department of Health Services']

['Ramesh Acharya', 'Neupane', 'Lila Bikram Thapa']

null

['iron', 'zinc', 'vitamin A', 'vitamin B1', 'vitamin B2', 'vitamin B6', 'vitamin B12', 'folic acid']

['SDG targets']

4,817

79

50

123

null

15

100

2

{'Food Management and Trading Company': 'Positive', 'World Food Programme': 'Positive', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Positive', 'Department of Health Services': 'Positive'}

{'Ramesh Acharya': 'Positive', 'Neupane': 'Positive', 'Lila Bikram Thapa': 'Positive'}

{'SDG targets': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Food Management and Trading Company': 0.86, 'World Food Programme': 0.71, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.76, 'Department of Health Services': 0.76}

{'Ramesh Acharya': 0.88, 'Neupane': 0.72, 'Lila Bikram Thapa': 0.76}

{'SDG targets': 0.68}

{}

Physical

{'malnutrition': 'addressed', 'wasting': 'not addressed', 'stunting': 'to be addressed', 'anaemia': 'addressed', 'non-communicable diseases': 'not addressed'}

['Karnali province', 'Nepal', 'Kathmandu Valley', 'Hetauda', 'Bardiya', 'Janakpur', 'Thapathali', 'Kailali', 'Surkhet']

119

{'location_by_disease': {'Surkhet': ['micronutrient deficiency'], 'Bardiya': ['micronutrient deficiency'], 'Dhanusha': ['micronutrient deficiency'], 'Kathmandu': ['micronutrient deficiency', 'vitamin B12 deficiency'], 'Kailali': ['micronutrient deficiency'], 'Makwanpur': ['micronutrient deficiency']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/25/nepal-achieves-global-vaccine-target-seven-years-ahead-of-schedule

2025-12-25T21:24:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-29T00:00:00

Nepal achieves global vaccine target, seven years ahead of schedule

Arjun Poudel

2025-12-25T00:00:00

Kathmandu

Nepal has met the World Health Organisation’s Immunisation Agenda 2030 by halving the number of zero-dose children—those who have never received even a single dose of routine vaccines—in 2023, seven years ahead of schedule. According to a report published in The Lancet, a leading international medical journal, apart from reducing the number of zero-dose children by 50 percent, the country is also in line to achieve 90 percent coverage of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT3), pneumococcal conjugate Vaccine (PCV3) and the second dose of the measles-containing vaccine. Along with Nepal, Bangladesh in South Asia has also achieved the target. Health officials credited Nepal’s immunisation priority and repeated drives to find zero-dose children for the early success. “We launched intensive campaigns to find zero-dose children, reached every household and made sure that no children missed routine vaccines,” said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “During the campaigns, we detected hundreds of children who had either not received a single dose of routine vaccines or had not gotten all vaccines in the routine list, and inoculated them.” The government has declared all seven provinces and 77 districts fully immunised. The Health Ministry started declaring fully immunised villages about two decades ago as a pilot project to boost the coverage of routine vaccines. Studies carried out in the past, including the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022 conducted by the Ministry of Health and Population, showed that at least four percent of children aged 12 to 23 months had received no vaccine. The country had also witnessed repeated measles outbreaks in 2023. Nineteen districts of six provinces—Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim—witnessed measles outbreaks in 2023. At least one child died, and 1,300 others were infected with the deadly virus at the time. Most districts that saw measles outbreaks in 2023 had been declared fully immunised before the outbreaks. Health officials from the disease-hit districts admitted that gaps in vaccination were exposed only after the outbreaks occurred. To address the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, health authorities launched repeated nationwide campaigns and administered vaccines to the children who had not received or completed all required doses. “The new report shows our progress on immunisation, but our job has not finished,” said Gautam. “New challenges including financing have emerged. We have dealt with existing challenges and are working to address emerging ones.” Immunisation experts in Nepal also said that funding crunch poses a serious threat to Nepal’s immunisation programme. At present, the government provides only 42 percent of the total immunisation budget, meaning that the remaining 58 percent comes from donor agencies. “We all know that external help is diminishing,” said Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, an immunisation expert. “The government has to increase its own investment to protect the immunisation programme.” Upreti said that the reduction in the number of zero-dose children by 50 percent also means that Nepal has yet to identify the remaining 50 percent. Nepal’s own goal is to administer all children with routine antigens. Childhood immunisation is the number one priority of the government, under which 13 types of vaccines are administered free of cost against a range of diseases, including measles-rubella, pneumonia, tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, rotavirus, Japanese encephalitis and typhoid. Experts say floating populations, scattered slums, working-class people, internal and external migration and lack of awareness continue to pose challenges to immunisation programmes.

Vaccination

Immunisation Progress

['Immunisation Agenda 2030', 'zero-dose children', 'vaccine coverage', 'DPT3', 'PCV3', 'measles-containing vaccine']

0.8

Positive

['measles', 'diphtheria', 'pertussis', 'tetanus', 'pneumonia', 'tuberculosis', 'hepatitis B', 'rotavirus', 'Japanese encephalitis', 'typhoid', 'rubella']

[]

['World Health Organisation', 'The Lancet', 'Family Welfare Division', 'Department of Health Services', 'Health Ministry', 'Ministry of Health and Population']

['Abhiyan Gautam', 'Shyam Raj Upreti']

null

['vaccines', 'DPT3', 'PCV3', 'measles-containing vaccine']

['Immunisation Agenda 2030']

3,836

153

38

159

null

28

58

2

{'World Health Organisation': 'Positive', 'The Lancet': 'Positive', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Positive', 'Department of Health Services': 'Positive', 'Health Ministry': 'Positive', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Positive'}

{'Abhiyan Gautam': 'Positive', 'Shyam Raj Upreti': 'Positive'}

{'Immunisation Agenda 2030': 'Positive'}

{}

{'World Health Organisation': 0.82, 'The Lancet': 0.75, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.85, 'Department of Health Services': 0.78, 'Health Ministry': 0.73, 'Ministry of Health and Population': 0.68}

{'Abhiyan Gautam': 0.82, 'Shyam Raj Upreti': 0.71}

{'Immunisation Agenda 2030': 0.85}

{}

Physical

{'measles': 'not addressed', 'diphtheria': 'not addressed', 'pertussis': 'not addressed', 'tetanus': 'not addressed', 'pneumonia': 'not addressed', 'tuberculosis': 'not addressed', 'hepatitis B': 'not addressed', 'rotavirus': 'not addressed', 'Japanese encephalitis': 'not addressed', 'typhoid': 'not addressed', 'rubella': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Bangladesh', 'South Asia', 'Koshi', 'Madhesh', 'Bagmati', 'Lumbini', 'Karnali', 'Sudurpaschim']

106

{'location_by_disease': {}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/24/burn-cases-spike-as-temperatures-dip

2025-12-24T19:16:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-29T00:00:00

Burn cases spike as temperatures dip

Arjun Poudel

2025-12-24T00:00:00

Kathmandu

The Nepal Cleft and Burn Centre also known as Kirtipur Hospital on Wednesday decided to expand an additional eight beds in its burn unit, as all 35 beds of the unit have been occupied by patients with severe burn injuries. Along with general beds, all 11 beds of the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital have been occupied by critically ill burn patients. “Burn victims keep coming every hour, “ said Dr Shankar Man Rai, senior consultant at the hospital. “We cannot expand intensive care unit beds easily, like we are expanding general beds numbers.” With the start of winter season, hospitals treating burn victims in the Kathmandu Valley witness an alarming surge in burn cases. Ongoing cold wave conditions in many Tarai districts have also contributed to a spike in burn incidents. Doctors, however, said that the limited bed capacity, especially in intensive care units, has made it increasingly difficult to provide timely care to the victims. “We have few vacant beds in general wards, but do not have any intensive care unit beds available,” said Dr Piyush Dahal, chief consultant plastic surgeon at Bir Hospital. “The number of burn victims is rising every day, but the bed capacity is not increasing at the same pace.” Multiple doctors, the Post spoke to, urged the general public not to sit too close to fires, even during extreme cold. They also requested that authorities distribute warm clothes to the poor instead of firewood. “The risk of catching fire lessens if we keep distance from flames,” said Dr Ishwar Lohani, a consultant plastic surgeon. “We should be careful while warming ourselves, take special care of children and elderly people, and move them away from fire to protect them from catching fire.” Meanwhile, the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said that temperatures could decline further, as the peak winter period is yet to arrive. Ongoing cold wave conditions in the Tarai will continue for the next couple of days, it said. “Compared to Tuesday, visibility in Dhangadhi has improved today [Wednesday],” said Binu Maharjan, a meteorologist at the division. “But these conditions will persist for the next few days.” Health experts warned the public not to take fire lightly, as treatment is too costly and the chance of recovery also depends on the extent of injury. The erstwhile government had pledged to provide free care to poor burn victims and reimburse treatment costs to the designated hospitals, but most health facilities have complained that they have not received reimbursements, and patients have been forced to pay costly treatment charges. Designated hospitals for free treatment of burn injuries include Kirtipur Hospital in Bagmati province; BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Koshi province; Narayani Hospital in Madhesh province; Pokhara Institute of Health Sciences in Gandaki province; Bheri Hospital in Lumbini province; Surkhet Provincial Hospital in Karnali province; and Seti Provincial Hospital in Sudurpaschim province. Nepal is among the countries with the highest incidence of burn injuries. It is the second most common injury in rural Nepal, accounting for five percent of disabilities, according to the World Health Organisation. The health ministry estimates that each year, 55,000 people throughout the country suffer burn injuries. One study shows that over 40,000 people sustain burns [minor or severe] every year in Nepal. Among them, about 1,500 to 2,000 succumb to their injuries. Kirtipur Hospital alone provides treatment to around 800 victims each year. Despite the scale of the problem, the government has neither upgraded nor expanded treatment facilities, nor has it run awareness programmes to deal with the immediate aftermath of burn incidents. Most hospitals provide only minor treatment for burns. Experts say such care does not ensure patient safety, and a multidisciplinary team of experts is needed to provide specialised care to victims. For that, highly trained medical professionals with years of training, advanced equipment and advanced facilities are needed, which in turn calls for a big investment, and it might not be possible to put together such a large sum. Doctors say public awareness, too, can substantially increase the chances of survival of burn patients.

Health News

Burn Injuries

['burn victims', 'intensive care unit', 'cold wave', 'Kirtipur Hospital', 'burn treatment']

-0.7

Negative

['burn injuries']

['Kirtipur Hospital', 'Bir Hospital', 'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences', 'Narayani Hospital', 'Pokhara Institute of Health Sciences', 'Bheri Hospital', 'Surkhet Provincial Hospital', 'Seti Provincial Hospital']

['Nepal Cleft and Burn Centre', 'Department of Hydrology and Meteorology', 'Meteorological Forecasting Division', 'World Health Organisation']

['Dr Shankar Man Rai', 'Dr Piyush Dahal', 'Dr Ishwar Lohani', 'Binu Maharjan']

null

[]

['free care to poor burn victims']

4,332

17

78

142

null

34

2

218

{'Nepal Cleft and Burn Centre': 'Positive', 'Department of Hydrology and Meteorology': 'Neutral', 'Meteorological Forecasting Division': 'Neutral', 'World Health Organisation': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Shankar Man Rai': 'Positive', 'Dr Piyush Dahal': 'Positive', 'Dr Ishwar Lohani': 'Positive', 'Binu Maharjan': 'Neutral'}

{'free care to poor burn victims': 'Negative'}

{'Kirtipur Hospital': 'Positive', 'Bir Hospital': 'Neutral', 'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences': 'Neutral', 'Narayani Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Pokhara Institute of Health Sciences': 'Neutral', 'Bheri Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Surkhet Provincial Hospital': 'Neutral', 'Seti Provincial Hospital': 'Neutral'}

{'Nepal Cleft and Burn Centre': 0.62, 'Department of Hydrology and Meteorology': 0.0, 'Meteorological Forecasting Division': 0.0, 'World Health Organisation': 0.0}

{'Dr Shankar Man Rai': 0.6, 'Dr Piyush Dahal': 0.55, 'Dr Ishwar Lohani': 0.6, 'Binu Maharjan': 0}

{'free care to poor burn victims': -0.73}

{'Kirtipur Hospital': 0.45, 'Bir Hospital': 0, 'BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences': 0, 'Narayani Hospital': 0, 'Pokhara Institute of Health Sciences': 0, 'Bheri Hospital': 0, 'Surkhet Provincial Hospital': 0, 'Seti Provincial Hospital': 0}

Physical

{'burn injuries': 'addressed'}

['Nepal', 'Kathmandu Valley', 'Tarai districts', 'Dhangadhi', 'Bagmati province', 'Koshi province', 'Madhesh province', 'Gandaki province', 'Lumbini province', 'Karnali province', 'Sudurpaschim province']

204

{'location_by_disease': {'Kathmandu': ['burn injuries'], 'Lalitpur': ['burn injuries'], 'Bhaktapur': ['burn injuries'], 'Kailali': ['burn injuries'], 'Kaski': ['burn injuries'], 'Banke': ['burn injuries'], 'Surkhet': ['burn injuries'], 'Sunsari': ['burn injuries']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/24/indian-donor-s-heart-gives-new-life-to-21-year-old-nepali-woman

2025-12-25T07:14:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-29T00:00:00

Indian donor’s heart gives new life to 21-year-old Nepali woman

Parbat Portel

2025-12-24T00:00:00

Biratnagar

Sometimes a single human heart binds two nations together—without maps or diplomacy, only through humanity. Such is the story of Durga Kami, a 21-year-old orphan from Surkhet, who today lives with the beating heart of an Indian man inside her chest. Ernakulam General Hospital in Kerala successfully completed its first-ever heart transplant, an operation that has since become a powerful symbol of medical achievement and cross-border compassion. Durga, who travelled to Kerala in late June seeking treatment, was suffering from cardiac sarcoidosis, a rare and severe heart condition. She had lost her mother and elder sister to the same disease during childhood, while her father had passed away earlier. After seeking treatment in Lucknow and Kathmandu, she was eventually advised by a Malayali acquaintance to come to Kochi for better care. Her only hope was a transplant. That hope emerged from tragedy. Forty-six-year-old A. Shibu, a resident of Kerala’s southern region, suffered critical injuries in a road accident on December 14. After days of treatment, doctors declared him brain-dead. Amid profound grief, his family took an extraordinary decision—to donate his organs. At the same time, Durga’s condition was deteriorating. The Kerala state health department placed her on priority in the heart donor registry, while swift coordination between the court, the health ministry and medical teams cleared the way for the transplant within hours. Shibu’s heart was airlifted by helicopter and transported around 11 kilometres to Ernakulam General Hospital, where a team of experienced surgeons performed the life-saving procedure on Durga. Indian media reports noted that Shibu’s organs were donated to multiple institutions: one kidney to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, his liver to Amrita Hospital, another kidney to Travancore Medical College and his eyes to the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology. His skin was also set aside for the skin bank in Thiruvananthapuram. Kerala Health Minister Veena George praised the medical teams and the donor family, noting that this was the first time in India that a heart transplant had been conducted at a district-level hospital. She said police and the home department coordinated rapid transport and road clearance for the organs. Durga’s brother Tilak expressed deep gratitude to the hospital, doctors and the Kerala government. Fighting back tears, he thanked the donor family for giving his sister a new life. But perhaps the most profound tribute lies not in words, but in the steady heartbeat inside a young Nepali woman—echoing the generosity of a grieving Indian family and the shared humanity that transcends borders.

Heart Transplant

Cross-Border Organ Donation

['Heart Transplant', 'Organ Donation', 'Cross-Border Compassion', 'Cardiac Sarcoidosis']

0.8

Positive

['cardiac sarcoidosis']

['Ernakulam General Hospital', 'Thiruvananthapuram Medical College', 'Amrita Hospital', 'Travancore Medical College', 'Regional Institute of Ophthalmology']

['Kerala state health department', 'Indian government', 'Kerala government']

['Durga Kami', 'A. Shibu', 'Veena George', 'Tilak']

null

[]

2,685

23

51

76

null

2

156

{'Kerala state health department': 'Positive', 'Indian government': 'Neutral', 'Kerala government': 'Positive'}

{'Durga Kami': 'Positive', 'A. Shibu': 'Positive', 'Veena George': 'Positive', 'Tilak': 'Positive'}

{}

{'Ernakulam General Hospital': 'Positive', 'Thiruvananthapuram Medical College': 'Positive', 'Amrita Hospital': 'Positive', 'Travancore Medical College': 'Positive', 'Regional Institute of Ophthalmology': 'Positive'}

{'Kerala state health department': 0.92, 'Indian government': 0.0, 'Kerala government': 0.88}

{'Durga Kami': 0.82, 'A. Shibu': 0.88, 'Veena George': 0.76, 'Tilak': 0.71}

{}

{'Ernakulam General Hospital': 0.96, 'Thiruvananthapuram Medical College': 0.89, 'Amrita Hospital': 0.88, 'Travancore Medical College': 0.88, 'Regional Institute of Ophthalmology': 0.87}

Physical

{'cardiac sarcoidosis': 'addressed'}

['Surkhet', 'Kerala', 'Kochi', 'Lucknow', 'Kathmandu', 'Thiruvananthapuram', 'India', 'Nepal']

94

{'location_by_disease': {'Surkhet': ['cardiac sarcoidosis'], 'Kathmandu': ['cardiac sarcoidosis']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/23/continue-regular-exercise-even-in-cold-weather-say-doctors

2025-12-23T18:37:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-29T00:00:00

Continue regular exercise even in cold weather, say doctors

Post Report

2025-12-23T00:00:00

Kathmandu

A few days ago, a 43-year-old man from Kathmandu reached Basundhara-based the National Cardiac Centre for treatment of high blood pressure. Doctors attending the patients found that the man’s blood pressure was extremely high, 220/110mmHg. “The patient had severe headaches, blurred vision, shortness of breath and serious renal problems due to high blood pressure,” said Dr Om Murti, an interventional cardiologist. “Until a few months ago, his blood pressure was under control, but when he stopped exercising after the start of the cold months and changed his eating habits, he suffered from multiple problems at once.” Doctors say this is a common refrain among many people who stop morning walks and other regular exercise due to chilling temperatures and also ignore health risks related to unhealthy eating, and these habits cause severe health complications. Avoiding regular exercise under the pretext of cold weather is the worst idea, doctors warn, stating that this increases the risk of multiple non-communicable diseases, which have emerged as a major public health problem in recent years. “Many people stop exercising regularly during winter and consume unhealthy foods, while alcohol intake and smoking increase,” said Anil. “Such habits are very dangerous for one’s health. More exercises are required instead in the cold season.” During winter months, the body also produces several hormones like catecholamines, adrenaline and vasopressin to keep the body warm, which increases the viscosity of blood that ultimately raises blood pressure, heartbeat and affects the heart, brain and other vital organs, according to doctors. "Those with high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease or those with a family history of these conditions are highly vulnerable during the winter months," said Anil. "They are at high risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure and cardiac arrest." A lack of exercise and eating more could mean weight gain and a rise in triglyceride levels. Elevated triglyceride levels may be a risk factor for atherosclerosis, in which plaque, made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances in the blood, builds up inside arteries. Experts say people with health complications may slow down the pace of exercise, but should not stop their workouts altogether. “If it is too cold or pollution is high in the early morning, people should go for a walk after sunrise or in the evening,” said Dr Jagadish Agrawal, former dean of the Institute of Medicine. “One can also practice indoor exercises, but physical exercises should not be stopped under any pretext.” Agrawal, who is also a senior consultant cardiologist, gives seven mantras for a healthy life—walk for at least an hour daily; eat sufficient green vegetables and fruits; control weight; live an addiction-free life; sleep at least eight hours a day; meditate; and talk to friends. “I am already over 70 and have been living a healthy lifestyle,” said Agrawal. “I advise everyone to live healthily. Money cannot buy health.” Of late, the burden of non-communicable diseases has risen alarmingly in Nepal. The Nepal Burden of Disease 2017 report attributed two-thirds (66 percent) of total deaths to non-communicable diseases, while the figure jumped to 71.1 percent in the 2019 report. The Global Burden of Disease 2021 shows 73 percent of deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases. A report published a few months ago in The Lancet, a leading international medical journal, stated that walking 7,000 steps a day significantly lessens the risk of major non-communicable diseases, including the risk of mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, dementia, and depressive symptoms. According to the report, walking 7,000 steps a day lowers the risk of all causes of mortality by 47 percent. Walking 7,000 steps a day also lowers the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 25 percent, reduces the risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases by 47 percent, lowers the risk of type-2 diabetes by 14 percent, dementia risk by 38 percent, and depressive symptoms by 22 percent compared to those who walk only 2,000 steps a day.

Health

Winter Health Risks

['high blood pressure', 'heart disease', 'non-communicable diseases', 'exercise', 'healthy eating', 'winter health risks']

-0.6

Negative

['high blood pressure', 'renal problems', 'non-communicable diseases', 'heart disease', 'diabetes', 'stroke', 'heart attack', 'heart failure', 'cardiac arrest', 'atherosclerosis', 'cancer', 'dementia', 'depressive symptoms']

['National Cardiac Centre']

['Institute of Medicine']

['Dr Om Murti', 'Anil', 'Dr Jagadish Agrawal']

null

[]

4,139

224

46

25

null

2

27

{'Institute of Medicine': 'Positive'}

{'Dr Om Murti': 'Positive', 'Anil': 'Positive', 'Dr Jagadish Agrawal': 'Positive'}

{}

{'National Cardiac Centre': 'Neutral'}

{'Institute of Medicine': 0.82}

{'Dr Om Murti': 0.82, 'Anil': 0.76, 'Dr Jagadish Agrawal': 0.89}

{}

{'National Cardiac Centre': 0.0}

Physical

{'high blood pressure': 'addressed'}

['Kathmandu', 'Nepal', 'Basundhara']

36

{'location_by_disease': {'Kathmandu': ['high blood pressure', 'headaches', 'blurred vision', 'shortness of breath', 'renal problems', 'diabetes', 'heart disease', 'stroke', 'heart attack', 'heart failure', 'cardiac arrest', 'atherosclerosis', 'elevated triglyceride levels', 'non-communicable diseases', 'cardiovascular disease', 'cancer', 'dementia', 'depressive symptoms', 'type-2 diabetes']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/22/rich-or-poor-educated-or-uneducated-many-refuse-free-vaccines

2025-12-23T06:48:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-29T00:00:00

Rich or poor, educated or uneducated, many refuse free vaccines

Post Report

2025-12-22T00:00:00

null

Immunisation workers, who visited some renowned private schools for the human papillomavirus (HPV) drive in February initially struggled to gain entry. Once inside, when they requested permission to administer the vaccine to eligible students, teachers objected, saying the children cannot be vaccinated without consent of parents. After hours of discussion, the school administration agreed to collect the consent of parents, but not all parents allowed their children to be vaccinated. “Parents of some children inquired with their family doctors, who asked them to take vaccines offered free of cost in the drive,” said Satish Bista, a senior public health administrator at the Public Health Office Kathmandu. “The HPV vaccine is too costly in private clinics, and conflicts of interest might have influenced some parents to refuse the vaccine.” Health officials said HPV vaccine uptake rate in the Kathmandu Valley is even lower than in the districts of the Madhesh Province, where coverage of most of public health programmes are generally low compared to other provinces. They said that low uptake among slum dwellers and in Madhesh is somewhat understandable—due to level of awareness, unemployment, conservative beliefs, and living conditions, among others—but even well-off and educated people refusing to participate in government programmes is what surprises them. “Earlier, we had to make extra efforts to make the uneducated people aware about the importance of vaccines and public health programmes,” said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. “Some educated and well-off families buy the same vaccine from private clinics for over Rs6,000, yet refuse to have their children vaccinated for free under the government campaign.” Health officials say coverage of health care programmes in big cities including the district of the Kathmandu Valley, districts of Madhesh Province, Lumbini Province is very low compared to remote areas of Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. Health workers also complain that convincing uneducated and poor people residing in remote areas is far easier than persuading educated people in big cities. Officials say that some educated people refuse to listen to female community health volunteers, who they think are less educated than themselves. Well-off people also deny access to health workers to their apartments, and in some cases have even unleashed dogs on volunteers. Due to low coverage rate of healthcare programmes and compromised water and sanitation conditions, the risk of outbreaks of communicable and vaccine preventable diseases is high in big cities, according to officials. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Population said that it is preparing to administer the HPV vaccine to all 10-year-old girls or those studying in class six during a month-long campaign from mid-January. Although the HPV vaccine has been included in the routine immunisation list, officials say that the vaccination programme will be launched for a month every year. “We have estimated that around 350,000 girls are 10 years old,” said Gautam. Human papillomavirus is a viral infection that spreads through skin-to-skin contact and is a leading cause of cervical cancer—the second-most common cancer in the developing world. Cervical cancer is a major cause of death among Nepali women, with hundreds diagnosed every year. Although the exact number of patients suffering from cervical cancer in Nepal is not known, it is estimated that every day, at least four women die of the disease. Doctors say HPV exists in more than 100 different forms, ranging from low-risk to high-risk infections. HPV types 16 and 18 are frequently associated with invasive cervical cancer compared to other types, meaning that they are more carcinogenic than other types. They say most cases of cervical cancer are associated with HPV. Widespread immunisation could significantly reduce the impact of cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers. Early treatment can prevent up to 80 percent of cervical cancer cases, according to them.

HPV Vaccine

Vaccination Drive

['HPV', 'Cervical Cancer', 'Vaccination', 'Immunisation']

-0.6

Negative

['human papillomavirus (HPV)', 'cervical cancer']

[]

['Public Health Office Kathmandu', 'Family Welfare Division', 'Department of Health Services', 'Ministry of Health and Population']

['Satish Bista', 'Dr Abhiyan Gautam']

null

['HPV vaccine']

['routine immunisation list', 'government campaign']

4,142

49

37

131

null

52

15

2

{'Public Health Office Kathmandu': 'Positive', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Positive', 'Department of Health Services': 'Neutral', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Positive'}

{'Satish Bista': 'Positive', 'Dr Abhiyan Gautam': 'Positive'}

{'routine immunisation list': 'Positive', 'government campaign': 'Negative'}

{}

{'Public Health Office Kathmandu': 0.45, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.35, 'Department of Health Services': 0.0, 'Ministry of Health and Population': 0.55}

{'Satish Bista': 0.62, 'Dr Abhiyan Gautam': 0.55}

{'routine immunisation list': 0.42, 'government campaign': -0.57}

{}

Physical

{'human papillomavirus (HPV)': 'not addressed', 'cervical cancer': 'addressed'}

['Kathmandu Valley', 'Madhesh Province', 'Lumbini Province', 'Karnali', 'Sudurpaschim provinces', 'Nepal']

106

{'location_by_disease': {'Kathmandu': ['human papillomavirus (HPV)', 'cervical cancer']}}

null

https://kathmandupost.com/health/2025/12/21/nepal-demographic-health-survey-faces-funding-crisis

2025-12-21T19:10:00

kathmandu_post

2025-12-29T00:00:00

Nepal Demographic Health Survey faces funding crisis

Post Report

2025-12-21T00:00:00

Kathmandu

The fate of the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey planned for 2026 is in jeopardy, as authorities have failed to secure funding for the study, which is instrumental in shaping public health policies. If halted, it would be the latest in a series of suspensions, as multiple other studies, including the Nepal Micronutrient Survey planned to be carried out within 2025, have already been suspended indefinitely due to a funding crunch. Several programmes in Nepal’s health sector including vital data collection efforts that officials say are essential for mapping progress and formulating new policies, have been halted following the suspension of assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in January. “We need international funding and technical assistance to carry out demographic health surveys like nationwide study,” said Dr Madan Kumar Upadhyaya, director at the Family Welfare Division, under the Department of Health Services. “Some testing requires sending specimens to international labs, and without foreign help such studies are not possible.” The Ministry of Health and Population used to carry out demographic and health surveys every five years. For these, USAID would provide all financial costs, Atlanta-based experts (US Demographic and Health Surveys) provided technical support, according to officials. “We have been trying to explore other donors for the study, but have not found any,” said Lila Bikram Thapa, chief of the Nutrition Section at the division. “We will be in the dark about our health status if we fail to generate new data and have to continue ongoing programmes, even if they are ineffective or irrelevant.” Experts say the NDHS is the most important health survey, which provides key information about the status of maternal and child health, nutrition, fertility and family planning, HIV/AIDS, water, sanitation and hygiene, women’s empowerment, domestic violence, access to healthcare, among others. The DHS data is also used by development partners, international researchers, and planners. “The DHS data guides our national health policies, programmes and also tracks the progress on Sustainable Development Goals,” said Thapa. “Without the new report, we cannot assess our present status or report our condition to the international community.” SDGs, a follow-up on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), aim to end poverty and hunger and all forms of inequality in the world by 2030. Nepal has committed to meeting the goals. Due to funding cuts, micronutrient surveys planned for April-May this year have been suspended indefinitely. The last micronutrient survey was carried out in 2016, in which the condition of drinking water, sanitation, child feeding practices, dietary diversity, vitamin A supplementation and deworming, iron supplementation, vitamin A and deworming among women, blood disorder status, nutrition status of adolescent girls, anaemia, iron deficiency, zinc deficiency, salt consumption and iodine level among the Nepalis. Likewise, a planned study on the effectiveness and impact of female community health volunteers throughout the country, as well as health facilities surveys, have also been suspended due to the funding crisis.

Public Health

Funding Crisis

['Nepal Demographic and Health Survey', 'USAID', 'funding crunch', 'public health policies', 'SDGs']

-0.7

Negative

['HIV/AIDS', 'anaemia', 'iron deficiency', 'zinc deficiency', 'blood disorder']

[]

['United States Agency for International Development (USAID)', 'US Demographic and Health Surveys', 'Ministry of Health and Population', 'Department of Health Services', 'Family Welfare Division', 'Nutrition Section']

['Dr Madan Kumar Upadhyaya', 'Lila Bikram Thapa']

null

['vitamin A', 'iron', 'deworming']

['Sustainable Development Goals', 'Millennium Development Goals']

3,240

79

49

217

null

65

34

2

{'United States Agency for International Development (USAID)': 'Negative', 'US Demographic and Health Surveys': 'Neutral', 'Ministry of Health and Population': 'Neutral', 'Department of Health Services': 'Neutral', 'Family Welfare Division': 'Neutral', 'Nutrition Section': 'Neutral'}

{'Dr Madan Kumar Upadhyaya': 'Positive', 'Lila Bikram Thapa': 'Positive'}

{'Sustainable Development Goals': 'Positive', 'Millennium Development Goals': 'Neutral'}

{}

{'United States Agency for International Development (USAID)': -0.75, 'US Demographic and Health Surveys': 0.0, 'Ministry of Health and Population': 0.0, 'Department of Health Services': 0.0, 'Family Welfare Division': 0.0, 'Nutrition Section': 0.0}

{'Dr Madan Kumar Upadhyaya': 0.65, 'Lila Bikram Thapa': 0.7}

{'Sustainable Development Goals': 0.72, 'Millennium Development Goals': 0}

{}

Physical

{'HIV/AIDS': 'not addressed', 'anaemia': 'addressed', 'iron deficiency': 'addressed', 'zinc deficiency': 'not addressed', 'blood disorder': 'not addressed'}

['Nepal']

9

{'location_by_disease': {}}

null