KATHMANDU, May 21: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population Upendra Yadav delivered a statement during the plenary meeting of the seventy-second World Health Assembly, on Monday.

Minister Yadav shared the achievements of Nepal in the elimination of trachoma last year and meeting rubella control two years ahead of the regional target, according to a press release issued by Nepal’s Permanent Mission to United Nations based in Geneva.

He further emphasized upon Nepal’s steps to ensure Universal Health Coverage in the achievement of health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

Underpinning the importance of health, Minister Yadav stated that for countries like Nepal, implementing the health-related goals and targets means fulfilling the pledge of leaving no-one behind.

He highlighted the needs of mainstreaming health agenda, strengthening primary health care, reducing the cost of drugs, minimizing the burden of non-communicable diseases for LDCs and preparing the ground for equitable access to quality health care through Universal Health Coverage. He further stressed on the importance of effective global partnerships for positive health outcomes.

The World Health Assembly, which began on Monday, will run till May 28.

As the world’s highest policy-making body governed by 194 member states, the Assembly meets every year where Health Ministers’ delegations deliberate and take decisions. The theme for this year’s session is ‘Universal health coverage: leaving no-one behind’.

Meanwhile, Yadav held a bilateral meeting with Minister of National Health Commission of China Ma Xiaowei in Geneva. During the meeting, the duo discussed the matters of mutual interest including strengthening bilateral cooperation in the health sector. 

Later in the afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister Yadav spoke at a WHO side event jointly organized by eight countries including Nepal on the title of ‘Universal health coverage to deliver the Global Strategy on Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health: re-thinking quality midwifery education’.

Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population Pushpa Chaudhary, who is also visiting Geneva, spoke as a panelist at the WHO technical briefing titled ‘Towards Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-Being For All’ and highlighted the priorities placed and challenges to be addressed in pursuing the achievement of health-related SDGs in Nepal. Later in the afternoon, Secretary Chaudhary also spoke as a panelist at a side event on ‘nutrition for health’.

 
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