Opening a marathon organized by the Hatemalo Sanchar at the Dashrath Stadium on Monday, Minister Mahato said the government was committed to expanding effective health services to villages and launching awareness programs to reduce the child mortality rate.[break]
It is the responsibility of the government to guarantee basic health facilities and education to one and all, the Health and Population Minister said, adding efforts were underway to open birthing centers in the villages.
Child rights activist and director of Hatemalo Sanchar, Nupur Bhattacharya, said reducing child mortality rate caused by malnutrition is the objective of the program.
The Health Minister also participated in an interaction program with children on the sidelines of the program. Children taking part in the interaction urged the Minister to come up with effective programs to reduce child mortality rate resulted from poor sanitation, malnutrition, lack of vaccination and basic health facilities.
Meanwhile, the Pragati Higher Secondary School, the Rastriya Bal Pratisthan and Shreepika Vidhyashram Higher Secondary School stood first, second and third, respectively in the marathon.
Some 200 students in between 11 to 14 years of age took part in the marathon in five teams.
The event was organised to mark the World Food Day calling world leaders to be serious towards child rights including on the global challenges-- child mortality rate, starvation and malnutrition. Nepal´s six celebrity athletes took part in the event. Noted marathoner Baikuntha Manandhar led the event
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