Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces - The Family Welfare Division (FWD), Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), with support from WHO Nepal, conducted a series of coordination and planning workshops to strengthen urban immunization through enhanced collaboration with health-care providers from the private sector and medical colleges.
/countries/nepal/f2ff1783-6bdb-48bc-8464-678e4428e15d.jpg?sfvrsn=dc52cb2e_4 "WHO Nepal facilitating a session during the urban immunization workshop in Madhesh Province, Nepal")
Dr Rahul Pradhan, National Professional Officer (middle), and Dr Ela Singh Rathaur, Urban Immunization Officer (left), from WHO Nepal, facilitating a session during the urban immunization workshop in Madhesh Province. Photo credit: WHO Nepal
Eight workshops were held in five provinces in Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini – from April to May 2025 – engaging over 280 participants from Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts) and 12 metropolitan and sub-metropolitan cities. Participants included federal and provincial health officials, paediatricians, microbiologists, medical officers from private sectors and medical colleges, and representatives from health partners.
/countries/nepal/img_3177.jpg?sfvrsn=f361ae62_3 "Mr Ek Narayan Lamsal, Immunization Focal Point for Gandaki Province, facilitating a session during the urban immunization workshop in the province")
Mr Ek Narayan Lamsal, Immunization Focal Point for Gandaki Province, facilitating a session during the urban immunization workshop in the province. Photo credit: WHO Nepal
The workshops fostered collaboration between government and private health-care providers to improve urban immunization and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance in metropolitan areas, aiming to reach every child and address urban challenges such as high population density, disparities in access to health services, and health inequities among migrants, individuals living in slum areas and disadvantaged groups.
/countries/nepal/img_3200.jpg?sfvrsn=fc579877_5 "Dr Abhiyan Gautam, Section Chief at Child Health and Immunization Service Section, Family Welfare Division, Ministry of Health and Population, facilitating a session during the urban immunization workshop at Gandaki province, Nepal")
Dr Abhiyan Gautam, Section Chief at Child Health and Immunization Service Section, Family Welfare Division, Ministry of Health and Population, facilitating a session during the urban immunization workshop at Gandaki province, Nepal. Photo credit: WHO Nepal
The workshops aligned public-private efforts by building a unified front, identifying operational challenges, and exploring opportunities for synergy to strengthen the national immunization system, enhance surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases and promote vaccine safety.
The commitment shown by health-care providers from the private sector and medical colleges marks a significant collaborative effort to strengthen urban immunization and represents a major step forward in Nepal's dedication to the Immunization Agenda 2030.
/countries/nepal/img_9614.jpg?sfvrsn=1f8d65f8_3 "Participants engaged in the urban immunization workshop in Koshi Province, Nepal")
Participants engaged in the urban immunization workshop in Koshi Province, Nepal. Photo credit: WHO Nepal
WHO will continue supporting the MoHP in engaging the private sector, establishing collaborative platforms, and implementing targeted advocacy programmes to promote equity, strengthen routine immunization and disease surveillance in urban areas, and ensure timely, inclusive and sustainable vaccine delivery.