Situation assessment

The country is still in the recovery phase after the earthquake of 2015 that affected 35 districts. The new WHO Health Emergencies Programme, adding operational capabilities to the traditional technical and normative roles of the Organization, will require that the work of the country office is reorganized and further strengthened. Nepal is one of the contributors to the Bangkok Principles for the implementation of the health aspects of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030. Nepal currently does not meet all IHR Core Capacity requirements. WHO will work with the government and partners to enhance national capacity in line with the Asia Pacific Strategy of Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies (APSED III). Delineation and development of key Core Capacities are also needed at subnational levels following federalization.

Focus area 3.1: Achieve compliance to IHR (2005)

WHO will:

1. Provide technical support to attain and sustain IHR Core Capacities for surveillance, response and points of entry.
2. Support development of the national framework for decentralized management of public health emergencies, through risk assessment, response and risk communication.

Focus area 3.2: Detect and respond to public health emergencies

WHO will:

1. Assist in the establishment of a comprehensive, integrated and sustainable National Disease Surveillance and Response System, especially for outbreakprone infectious diseases and other public health risks.
2. Enhance the national and subnational technical and operational capacity to manage disease outbreaks and other unusual events of public health significance.
3. Technical assistance using the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) aimed at achieving cholera elimination.
4. Develop and maintain optimal capacities at the WHO Country Office augmented by support from the regional and global levels to effectively implement the WHO Emergency Response Framework (ERF) during national and regional public health emergencies.

Focus area 3.3: Early warning, risk assessment, preparedness and emergency response to disasters

WHO will:

1. Provide technical support for disaster risk reduction (DRR) interventions in the health sector.
2. Build disaster management capacity at decentralized levels.
3. Support the establishment of hospital networks with appropriate pre- and post-hospital service linkages in provinces in coordination with partners for ensuring hospital preparedness and response to disasters.
4. Enhance sectorwide and partner coordination and action for disaster management at decentralized levels.