Refresher training on bacteriology held

Kathmandu, Bagmati province - The National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Population, and WHO Country Office for Nepal conducted, a five-day refresher training on bacteriology from 24–28 November, with support from the Pandemic Fund, to strengthen antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and enhance laboratory readiness for cholera outbreaks. The training equipped over 16 laboratory professionals from Provincial Public Health Laboratories and tertiary care institutions with improved competencies in sample collection and transportation, use of RDT,  sample processing for culture, serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing for enteric pathogens with focus on Vibrio cholerae, while reinforcing standardized workflows, biosafety measures and accurate data reporting. As Nepal continues to face recurrent cholera outbreaks, particularly during the monsoon season due to contaminated water sources, the training strengthened laboratory capacity for both clinical and water testing, which will contribute in early detection and limiting large-scale disease transmission. The last cholera outbreak occurred in August 2025 in Parsa and Bara districts of Madhesh Province, with more than 1800 suspected and confirmed cases.