The Family Welfare Division (FWD) of the Department of Health Services (DoHS), with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO), organized a provincial orientation and planning workshop on 9 October 2025 in Birgunj, Madhesh Province. The session focused on preparing for a reactive Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) campaign in Parsa and Bara districts, launched in response to the current cholera outbreak in the province.
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Dr Abhiyan Gautam, Chief of the Child Health and Immunization Service Section at Family Welfare Division, Ministry of Health and Population, sharing updates on the Oral Cholera Vaccination campaign in Madesh province, Nepal. Photo credit: WHO Nepal/S.Shrestha
Participants included officials from FWD, the Management Division, the Provincial Health Directorate, the Provincial Health Logistics Management Center, Health Offices of Parsa and Bara, and representatives from WHO and UNICEF. The workshop was chaired by Mr Saroj Chandra Neupane, Director of the Provincial Health Directorate. Dr Abhiyan Gautam, Chief of the Child Health and Immunization Service Section at FWD, shared updates on campaign planning, logistics and operational strategies.
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Participants actively engaged in the workshop. Photo credit: WHO Nepal/S.Shrestha
More than 50 participant, including chiefs of district health offices, EPI and cold chain focal persons, municipal health representatives, and WHO surveillance and immunization officers, reviewed the campaign’s operational plan. Teams finalized microplans for each district and municipality and discussed coordination and monitoring mechanisms to ensure effective rollout.
To support the campaign, the Ministry of Health and Population has received 1 018 100 doses of OCV through the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision, with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Over 20 WHO technical officers have been deployed to Parsa and Bara to assist with field implementation. More than 1000 government health workers and vaccinators, along with over 2200 Female Community Health Volunteers, will be mobilized for the campaign. The OCV drive will begin on 12 October in Parsa and 14 October in Bara, aiming to reach over one million people aged one year and above across 20 municipalities.