Kathmandu: Hon. Minister for Health and Food Security, Nisha Mehta, represented Nepal and took part in important events at the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) held in Antalya, Turkey, and in various programs under BIMSTEC held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She returned home on November 12 at 11:45am.
During COP31, Minister Mehta chaired a panel discussion session held at the Nepal Pavilion on the topic “Health at the Heart of Climate Action: A Global Perspective” and drew the attention of the global community to understand climate change as a serious health crisis and to place health at the center of climate action plans. Presenting Nepal’s experience of the direct impact of climate-related disasters in the Himalayan region, including the devastating flood in Rasuwa, on public health and service delivery, she called for easier access to grant-based climate finance for least developed countries. She also met with Nepali youth and representatives of organizations participating in the conference and urged them to actively raise health-related issues in all sessions.
Similarly, at the first BIMSTEC Health Ministers’ Meeting held in Colombo and at various programs, Minister Mehta placed special emphasis on enhancing regional cooperation among member states, exchanging knowledge and experience, and strengthening health systems. On that occasion, important discussions and interactions were held on identifying common health challenges among the member states, finding effective solutions to them, and making regional partnership and mutual coordination more effective. In addition, she also held bilateral meetings with representatives from various countries and coordinated mutually on health sector reforms.
The Ministry of Health and Food Security stated that Minister Mehta successfully raised Nepal’s national interests, the priorities of the health sector, the importance of food hygiene, and the serious challenges that climate change has posed to public health strongly on both international and regional platforms. According to the ministry, the visit completed very successfully and productively while also expanding global and regional cooperation.
