Situation assessment

It is widely recognized that multisectoral action is central to the SDG agenda and many of the health gains come from sectors outside of health. Collaboration with all stakeholders will apply throughout WHO’s work in Nepal, but here are outlined the top priorities where the strategic focus will be achieved through multisectoral action. NCDs pose a major challenge to Nepal’s health-care system with deaths due to NCDs having increased from 51% of all deaths in 2010 to 65% in 2015. The World Health Assembly approved in 2016 a new “Framework of engagement with non-State actors” (FENSA). The objective was for WHO to enable more effective, efficient and transparent engagements with civil society, the private sector and academic institutions. WHO in Nepal would like to involve non-State actors and other government agencies and ministries to address important public health problems and to influence the social, economic and environmental determinants of health. This marks a more pro-active engagement of WHO in the SDG era in close cooperation with other UN agencies.

Focus area 4.1: Combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

WHO will:

1. Engage with stakeholders across sectors to promote rational use of medicines, and reduce over-the-counter sale of antibiotics and advocacy for AMR prevention and containment programme in line with the national action plan.
2. Build capacity for laboratory-based surveillance.
3. Use traditional and social media to educate the public and health professionals on the risk of AMR.

Focus area 4.2: Reducing risk factors for noncommunicable diseases

WHO will:

1. Provide leadership, advocacy and partnership to accelerate national multisectoral response for prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, to promote healthy lifestyles and to reduce exposure to key NCD related risk factors.
2. Provide technical support to strengthen NCD governance capacity.
3. Advocate and provide technical support to accelerate the full implementation of FCTC.
4. Provide technical advice on taxation and regulation of tobacco, alcohol and sale of sugary drinks.
5. Use social media to promote healthy lifestyles, tobacco-free environment, and reduce exposure to key NCD-related risk factors and stigma associated with mental disorders.
6. Provide technical support to ensure that legal, policy and strategic frameworks required are in place to accelerate implementation of mental health action plan 2013–2020.

Focus area 4.3: Address the impact of environmental health and climate change

WHO will:

1. Provide technical support and advocacy on ambient and indoor air pollution, in particular for Kathmandu Valley, in line with WHO air quality guidelines.
2. Conduct research on health outcomes related to air pollution and urban living.
3. Provide technical assistance to implement the health component of national adaptation plan to climate change.
4. Provide technical assistance for water quality surveillance.