Condition of health sector in Nepal
Answers
Explanation:
According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017, the eight leading causes of morbidity (illness) and mortality (death) in Nepal are: Neonatal disorders (9.97%), Ischaemic Heart Disease (7.55%), COPD (5.35%), Lower respiratory infection (5.15%), Diarrhoeal disease (3.42%), Road injury (3.56%), Stroke (3.49%), ...
Answer:
Lack of access to basic maternal healthcare, difficult geographical terrain, poorly developed transportation and communication systems, poverty, illiteracy, women's low status in the society, political conflict, shortage of health care professional and under utilization of currently available services are major ...
Nepal
Nepal is one of the world's poorest countries with 45% of the population living below the poverty line. As much as 50% of children under age of 3 suffer from stunted growth. The country is highly susceptible to natural disasters such as earthquakes, recurrent floods, and landslides. There are numerous gaps in health pre¬paredness and mitigation. No hospital in the country completely meets earthquake resistant standards. An armed Maoist insurgency which began in 1996 has spread all over the country, seriously affecting 80% of the countryside, and leaving more than 12,000 people killed. Between 100,000 to 200,000 persons are internally displaced with difficult access to health care. Since the end of a unilateral insurgent ceasefire on 2 January 2006 a number of violent incidents have occurred. Concern has been raised that the violence will escalate further.
The insurgency has destroyed some sub health posts in the rural areas and the ratio of doctors to the population is one to every 18,000 persons. Structural problems of health staff absenteeism, lack of supervision and problems with the supply chain to remote areas are exacerbated by the violent conflict. Only 27% of the population has access to adequate sanitation and 30% lack access to safe drinking water. The main causes of morbidity are diarhorreal disease, dysentery, cholera and typhoid.
WHO ACTIONS
ASSESSING HEALTH NEEDS, IDENTIFYING AND PRIORITIZING HEALTH PROBLEMS
Support the Ministry of Health and Population through conducting health gaps assessments, and support the setting up of a monitoring system with other health partners to collect and disseminate epidemiological information.
Provide technical support and guidance to the regional and district health offices, and rapid response teams to improve disease outbreak investigation, analysis and case reporting.
Support the Ministry of Health and Population through conducting health gaps assessments, and support the setting up of a monitoring system with other health partners to collect and disseminate epidemiological information.
Provide technical support and guidance to the regional and district health offices, and rapid response teams to improve disease outbreak investigation, analysis and case reporting.
COORDINATING EMERGENCY HEALTH ACTION
Strengthen WHO country support by providing additional international public health experts and setting up an operational room to improve coordination of health work with partners and access to health care services.
Provide technical guidelines to NGOs and health partners for health interventions. Develop and disseminate these guidelines and essential information in Nepali language to local health workers.
IDENTIFYING AND FILLING GAPS IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
Conduct emergency preparedness workshops for district health offices and rapid response teams focusing on rapid health assessment, communicable diseases surveillance and control in complex emergencies.
Reduce mass casualty deaths from large scale disasters such as earthquakes through risk reduction of essential health infrastructures and training in non-structural and earthquake safety measures to hospitals.
Support the prevention and control of water-borne and sanitation related diseases such as malaria and cholera by distributing water disinfectants, water quality assessment kits and insecticide treated bed-nets.
STRENGTHENING LOCAL CAPACITY FOR BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES
Provide training and technical supervision to regional and district health offices to support vaccination campaigns, management of malnutrition cases and chronic disease control.
Strengthen local capacity to assist vulnerable population groups by training social workers and sanitarians designated to work for the internally displaced person’s settlements.
Pre-position supplies such as diarrhoeal kits and New Emergency Health Kits to support contingency plans for potential diseases outbreaks and health interventions.