Kathmandu: Nisha Mehta, Minister for Health and Food Safety, addressed the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on May 20.
In her statement, the Minister reaffirmed Nepal’s support for a strong and adequately financed World Health Organization, one that is responsive to country needs. She highlighted Nepal’s progress in primary health care, high immunization coverage, improved maternal and child health outcomes, strengthened emergency preparedness, and the recent introduction of the HPV vaccine into routine immunization.
The Assembly elected Minister Mehta for Vice President of the 79th WHA on May 19.
Minister Mehta visited the Permanent Mission of Nepal in Geneva and took stock of Nepal’s priorities and engagements in Geneva.
On May 18, Minister Mehta addressed the event titled “Global Pursuit of Suicide Prevention: Turning Evidence into Action”. The event was organized by Nepal in collaboration with WHO Members and social partners in Geneva. Ministers of Sri Lanka and Portugal, the First Lady of Guatemala, WHO Assistant DG Dr. Jeremy Farrar, delegates from WHO Members, and representatives of civil society and academia attended the event.
Minister Mehta also participated in the ministerial breakfast meeting on “Responsible AI for Health Systems Transformation”, joined the Minister Panel on the Midwifery Accelerator, and delivered a keynote at the side event on ‘Cervical Cancer Elimination: Strengthening Health Systems & Accountability Toward the 2030 Targets’.
Minister Mehta had bilateral meetings with her counterparts, Health Ministers, Lei Haichao of China, J.P. Nadda of India, M A Muhit of Bangladesh, and Geela Ali of the Maldives.
The Minister is leading a Nepal Delegation to the 79th World Health Assembly, which comprises Ambassador Ram Prasad Subedi, Permanent Representative of Nepal to UN-Geneva, and the officials from the Ministry of Health and the Permanent Mission of Nepal in Geneva.
