Kathmandu: Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), who is on his official visit to Nepal, called on Rt. Hon. President Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari and Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba today.
The Rt. Hon. President commended the leadership of WHO during the Covid-19 pandemic, in particular towards ensuring vaccine equity through COVAX Facility. Rt. Hon. President also expressed appreciation for the role WHO has been playing in strengthening the health system in Nepal. Dr. Tedros lauded Nepal’s achievement in reducing maternal and child mortality and for being a pioneer in a number of health initiatives including nation-wide new vaccine campaign against Typhoid into the routine immunisation programme, first of its kind in South East Asia Region of WHO.
Earlier, Dr. Tedros accompanied by Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) and other members of his delegation called on Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba. While emphasizing the cooperation of WHO in further bolstering health services in Nepal, Rt. Hon. Prime Minister praised the effective leadership of WHO during COVID-19 pandemic and expressed his hope for more collaboration between Nepal and WHO in days to come. WHO-DG highlighted Government of Nepal’s achievement in health sector including through allocation of good amount of budget in health services. He also applauded free basic health services as fundamental rights guaranteed to the citizens by the Constitution of Nepal.
Dr. Tedros later in the day visited Patan Secondary School to observe ongoing campaign for Typhoid vaccination. He also paid a visit to National Public Health Laboratory and Teku Hospital.
Foreign Secretary Mr. Bharat Raj Paudyal is hosting an official dinner in honour of the visiting dignitaries this evening. WHO-DG and Regional Director of SEARO are scheduled to return tomorrow morning.
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