Kathmandu: Nepal has been officially declared free from rubella, setting a milestone in the public health sector. Representatives of the World Health Organisation and UNICEF today handed over a certificate of the eradication of rubella to Minister for Health and Population, Pradip Paudel, during a news conference organized by the Ministry.
According to National News Agency Nepal, this accomplishment marks Nepal as the sixth member nation of the WHO in the South-East Asia region to eliminate rubella, a milestone achieved on August 18, 2025. On this occasion, Minister Paudel expressed that this declaration is a matter of pride for all Nepali citizens. He urged continued efforts to sustain this achievement and to eliminate other preventable pediatric diseases, ensuring a healthy future for Nepali children.
“This is the result of untiring efforts of our health professionals, women community health volunteers, and the citizens. Nepal has been the sixth nation in South-East Asia to secure this success,” the Minister stated. Secretary at the Health Ministry, Dr. Bikash Devkota, described the elimination of rubella as a milestone for the Nepal government in 2025. He emphasized the importance of concerted efforts to eradicate measles as well.
Dr. Bibek Kumar Lal, Director at the Family Welfare Division in the Ministry, highlighted the major contribution of vaccination programs in eradicating rubella, noting that the government prioritized the vaccination drive. WHO representative for Nepal, Dr. Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, congratulated the Government of Nepal and development partners, citing the achievement as a moment of pride and a historic contribution to the world health sector.
The successful vaccination drive, robust monitoring system, and rapid response to the epidemic played crucial roles in reaching this achievement, according to Dr. Pandav.