Health Minister initiates int'l dialogue seeking support to Nepal at World Health Assembly

Kathmandu, June 28: Minister for Health and Population, Pradip Paudel, has initiated high-level international dialogues to garner support for Nepal’s proposal on the health and safety of migrant workers. The proposal was submitted on behalf of Nepal to the recent World Health Assembly held from May 18 to 27.

Nepal, a current member of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO), is preparing to advance this agenda further at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). 

As part of these preparations, Minister Paudel held discussions with WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Saima Wazed, at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. "Our concern lies with the significant number of Nepali workers currently employed abroad. Ensuring their health and safety is a national priority," he said during the meeting. 

In response, Regional Director Wazed welcomed the initiative and expressed her hope for broader international support to it. She also pledged to play a coordinating role to help move the agenda ahead. 

Nepal’s proposal to the World Health Assembly calls for employers to bear full responsibility for the health and safety of all workers. The government is committed to presenting and advocating this proposal at the forthcoming session of the World Health Assembly. (RSS)