Kathmandu, Bagmati Province
Nepal recorded over 54,000 reported cases of dengue and 88 deaths in 2022.
To tackle this, a consultative meeting was held to review and discuss the dengue preparedness and response action plan for 2023 with the participation of key health stakeholders from all three tiers of the Government. This critical plan would include multi-sectoral engagement, across health and non-health sectors, to strengthen surveillance systems, vector control, and case management.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP); Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD); National Health Education, Information, and Communication Center; National Public Health Laboratory; Vector Borne Disease Research and Training Center; major hospitals such as Bir Hospital and Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Diseases Hospital; and WHO participated in the meeting.
Representatives from various provinces and local levels, including the Secretary of the Ministry of Health for Koshi and Bagmati Province, and Directors from the Health (Services) Directorate of Koshi, Bagmati, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim provinces, also attended the meeting. Chiefs of Health Offices in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur, and health section chiefs from Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Lalitpur Metropolitan City, and Bhaktapur Municipality, were also present.
The EDCD, which is leading the National program on dengue control, highlighted the key responses and major challenges encountered in 2022, and presented the action plan with projections of dengue cases.
Presentation by Dr. Chuman Lal Das, Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, on the dengue response of 2022 and 2023 action plan. Photo credit: WHO Nepal/ A. Thapa
During the review, participants stressed the following recommendations:
- Enhancement of local capacity to prevent and control dengue,
- Designated funds for disease outbreaks at central and provincial levels,
- Establishing mechanisms for community inspections,
- Widespread advocacy and risk communication,
- Strengthening hospital preparedness,
- Planning for fever clinics, drugs, and commodities, including rapid diagnostic test kits,
- Strengthening entomological capacity,
- Timely preparedness in larger cities and metropolitan areas through increased advocacy with elected representatives and key stakeholders, such as schools, construction companies, and the Chamber of Commerce.
Satish Bista, Chief of Health Office, Lalitpur, providing his inputs on the action plan. Photo credit: WHO Nepal/ A. Thapa
Dr. Krishna Poudel, Chief, Policy Planning and Monitoring Division, MoHP, underscored the prioritization of household measures such as targeted ‘Search and Destroy’ as a core component in the plan.
Dev Kumari Guragain, Hon’ble Secretary of MoHP, sharing her remarks on the action plan. Photo Credit: WHO Nepal/A. Thapa
Hon’ble Secretary of MoHP, Dev Kumari Guragain, appreciated the EDCD's efforts to develop the plan and expressed the MoHP's commitment to addressing bottlenecks.
Dr Dipendra Raman Singh, Director-General of Department of Health Services, sharing his remarks on the plan. Photo Credit: WHO Nepal/A.Thapa
Dr. Dipendra Raman Singh, Director-General of DoHS, emphasized improving health literacy as a cornerstone of the strategy, affirmed his commitment to provide all possible support, and thanked all key stakeholders, including WHO, for their contributions during the 2022 dengue outbreak response.
WHO played a crucial role in assisting Nepal during the 2022 dengue outbreak by strengthening clinical case management, disease and vector surveillance, and risk communication; facilitating search and destroy campaigns at the local levels; supporting serotyping; and providing rapid diagnostic test kits.
The plan, which was also prepared with WHO support, will now incorporate the inputs of the participants and proceed for endorsement in National Planning Commission for resource mobilization.
WHO will provide continued assistance to the Government of Nepal in the implementation of the action plan.