Kathmandu: The Ministry of Health and Population has initiated preparations to tackle potential health hazards associated with the upcoming monsoon season. Health Minister Pradip Paudel convened a meeting to devise strategies for the prevention and control of possible pandemics and diseases prevalent during the rainy season.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Minister Paudel’s Private Secretariat highlighted that the Department of Health Services is tasked with managing cleanliness and ensuring the availability of clean water in areas susceptible to disease outbreaks. The National Health Education Information and Communication Centre will focus on disseminating information to local communities to raise awareness about the importance of using clean water.
The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division is set to collect relevant data and prepare by conducting virtual meetings with rapid response teams across all local levels. The division will also update the list of personnel trained in health-related disaster control, deploying them across the seven provinces as required.
Furthermore, coordination will be established with the National Emergency Operation Centre and Provincial Health Emergency Operation Centre to ensure comprehensive preparedness. A key decision from the meeting was for the Department of Health Services to submit a proposal to the ministry within a week to amend the ‘Infectious Disease Act, 2020’, adapting it to current needs and contexts.