The project aims to strengthen the delivery of basic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) services in the country and will be implemented by the Ministry of Health and Population
16 July 2021
The NORAD-WHO Project which will work towards strengthening the delivery of basic non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) health services in Nepal was launched today.
Mr. Laxman Aryal, Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP); His Excellency Mr. Lasse Bjørn Johannessen, Norwegian Ambassador to Nepal; and Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO Representative to Nepal, jointly launched the project. Participants at the program included Mr. Dipendra Man Singh, Director General at Department of Health Services; Dr Krishna Paudel, Director at Epidemiology and Disease Control Division; and Mr. Mahendra Shrestha, Chief Scientist at MoHP.
Noting the escalating burden of NCDs and associated risk factors in the country, Secretary Aryal stressed on the importance of working across sectors and the need for urgent action in strengthening health system preparedness to ensure delivery of essential services even during an emergency like COVID-19.
“A well-organized and well-prepared health system has the capacity to maintain essential service delivery throughout an emergency such as COVID-19, limiting mortality. The COVID 19 pandemic has highlighted the need for urgent action for overall health systems preparedness for continuity of services. This provides an opportunity to rethink building back better for essential NCD services and innovations,” said Secretary Aryal.
The NORAD-WHO Project aims to improve the delivery of essential NCD services through the use of Nepal Integrated NCD Care Model (NINCM) and will build on the existing initiatives of Package of Essential Noncommunicable (PEN) and mental health interventions to develop a comprehensive service delivery including early detection, management, and long-term care for common NCDs.
“Today, non-communicable diseases are a big killer worldwide, with the most prevalent being cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, diabetes and mental disorders. The Norwegian Government through our development agency, NORAD, is very proud and grateful to financially support this program and wishes to contribute in the global battle against NCDs,” said Ambassador Johannessen.
The NORAD-WHO project will be implemented in the six selected districts through the MoHP with WHO providing continued technical support. NORAD, the development agency of the Norwegian Government, has financially supported the program.
“If we wish to mount an effective campaign against NCDs, it is imperative that we bring together the experiences of those from the frontlines, whether they work at the local level in a rural clinic, at the national level in a ministry, or developing policy at the international level. The composition of those seated at the dais today reflects this diversity of actors who together can advance the NCD agenda in Nepal,” said Dr Pandav, WHO Representative to Nepal.
Deaths from NCDs increased from 66% in 2016 to 71% in 2019 in the country. Only 5% of hypertensive patients have blood pressure controlled. The percentage of the population aged 15 years and above with raised blood pressure who are currently taking medication is only 9.5%.