Minister for Health and Population Girirajmani Pokhrel

Minister for Health and Population Girirajmani Pokhrel (File Photo)
Minister for Health and Population Girirajmani Pokhrel met with the Director General of the WHO, Dr. Margaret Chan, on the sidelines of the 60th World Health Assembly in Geneva on Monday and requested for more support from the world health body.

During the meeting, minister Pokhrel conveyed the Director General about the significant role played by 50,000 female community health volunteers in Nepal in the delivery of primary health services to their community including contribution they have made in the field of immunization and vaccination, the Nepalese Permanent Mission in Geneva said in a statement.

Stressing on the linkage between peace and health, Pokhrel stated that the government of Nepal had placed priority to the health sector as one of the means of sustaining peace.

“The Government priority is to provide better health services and free primary health care to the poor and marginalized population,” he said explaining about government’s responsibility to provide medical care to about 3500 wounded Maoist combatants as well.

Highlighting the challenges of the Government in the health sector, Pokhrel assured the head of the WHO that the Government of Nepal would optimally utilise the resources under its assistance and urged greater cooperation from WHO at this critical stage of transition.

Dr. Chan on her part congratulated the Government of Nepal for the positive developments taking place in the peace process.

She expressed appreciation to Nepal’s efforts in the improvement of health sector despite several challenges posed by geographical terrain and resources and technical manpower. Commending Nepal’s performance to reduce child mortality rate, she expressed commitment that WHO will continue its technical support to Nepal. She also assured that her priority to the women’s health and reduction of maternal mortality rate would remain at the top of the agenda of WHO support.

Members of Nepalese delegation to the 60th World Health Assembly, Dr. Nirakar Man Shrestha, Dr. Mahesh Kumar Maskey and Shanker Dulal, among others, were also present during the meeting.