The Honourable Minister of Health and Population, Mr. Bhanubhakta Dhakal, launched the rotavirus vaccine (RVV) in the National Immunization Programme (NIP) of Nepal on 2 July 2020.
The National Immunization Programme (NIP) of Nepal has consistently reached more than 90% of its target population with life-saving vaccines. Reduction of child mortality from vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) was a strong driver for reducing overall under-five mortality rate (U5MR) in Nepal enabling the country to reach its Millennium Development Goal in child mortality reduction.
However, diarrhoeal disease and deaths have remained a significant cause of preventable child mortality. About a quarter to a third of severe diarrhoea in under-five children is caused by Rotavirus. Under the leadership of Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP), the Child Health and Immunization Section of Family Welfare Division (FWD), has now introduced Rotavirus vaccine (RVV) in routine childhood immunization programme to combat against diarrheal diseases. With this new vaccine introduction, all children in Nepal would now be protected against 12 vaccine preventable diseases.
A new vaccine introduction is a challenge to any national programme. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic presented another unique challenge to NIP, which rose to the occasion to meet both challenges. NIP has planned to leverage the high crowd pulling power at immunization sessions owing to high community acceptance of vaccination, to spread the message and practices of handwashing and other sanitation measures which will help curb diarrhoea as well as COVID-19 transmission.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Hon’ble Health Minister Mr Bhanubhakta Dhakal stated that now onward, all infants will get RVV in Nepal against Rotavirus diarrhoea along with messages to mothers on hygiene promotion practices. Hon. Minister thanked National Immunization Advisory Committee, National Immunization Programme (NIP), and core immunization partners like WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, the vaccine alliance, as well as others like WaterAid who have worked closely to achieve this new milestone for Nepal.
Dr Jhalak Gautam, Chief, Child Health and Immunization Service Section highlighted that around 42% under-five children suffer from diarrhoea every year. Many of these diarrhoeal episodes are due to rotavirus carrying a high mortality risk. Training for RVV introduction at the provincial levels was completed opportunistically with training sessions for a measles rubella campaign. With support from core immunization partners (Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF), the NIP will be rolling out RVV all over Nepal current and next financial year (2020-2021).
Dr Jos Vandelaer, WHO representative to Nepal mentioned that globally there is high risk of rotavirus related diarrhoea among under-five children. In Nepal all children will suffer from at least one episode of diarrhoea before reaching its fifth birthday and each episode brings with it high risk of severe morbidity and mortality. Dr Jos congratulated NIP and core immunization partners for working together with MOHP to introduce the rota virus vaccine in Nepal, including GAVI’s financial support.