About WHO in Nepal

The World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization (WHO) was established on 7 April 1948 as the directing and coordinating authority in global public health within the United Nations (UN) system. Working at three levels in the Organization (global, regional, and country), more than 7000 WHO staff worldwide collaborate with the governments of 194 Member States and other partners to achieve the WHO founding vision of the attainment of the highest possible level of health by all people.

WHO in the South-East Asia Region

WHO South-East Asia Regional Office provides leadership on health matters, articulates evidence-based policy options, provides technical support to countries, and monitors health trends in the South-East Asia region, home to a quarter of the world's population.

WHO in Nepal

The World Health Organization (WHO), Country Office for Nepal, has been supporting the Government of Nepal (GoN) for over 64 years towards achieving better health for all people in Nepal; and will continue this support, with a stronger focus on technically assisting the government in achieving existing goals and targets.

The strategies are informed by the aspirations of the National Health Policy (2014), Nepal Health Sector Strategy (2015-2020), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the WHO’s Regional Flagship Priorities, The Thirteenth General Programme of Work, and international commitments made by the GoN. It was developed in consultation with senior officials in the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), partners, and staff members from the WHO, Country Office for Nepal.

The strategies draw on the mandate, expertise, and comparative advantage of the WHO as the world’s leading public health organization. It also elaborates on the recently endorsed UNDAF’s strategic priorities (2018-2022) related to health. As a Member State, this strategy presents an opportunity for the GoN to identify and influence the WHO’s global priorities which are relevant to Nepal.

Within the SDGs, addressing current health issues requires an ever more comprehensive approach, and the WHO, Country Office for Nepal, intends to work closely with other ministries and partners. WHO, Country Office for Nepal, will furthermore extend its support to subnational levels to accommodate changes being introduced under a federalized system, will focus on its competitive advantages, and define the scope of its support in alignment with government priorities and development partners.

In addition, WHO, Country Office for Nepal, has a central immunization and vaccine-preventable disease office (Kathmandu), with field offices and Surveillance Medical Officers (SMOs), that support active surveillance of polio, measles, rubella, neonatal tetanus, and AES (acute encephalitis syndrome); and multiple field-based WHO Emergency District Support Officers, who provide technical support to strengthen sub-national disaster preparedness capacity and support recovery activities in the affected areas.