Student organizations should focus on social and health issues: Minister Paudel

Nepal Health News, Kathmandu – Minister for Health and Population, Pradeep Paudel, has stated that it is time for student unions and organizations to now focus on social awareness, health consciousness, and contemporary issues.

Speaking at a program held in Kathmandu on Wednesday, he expressed the view that if students move forward with a common perspective on issues such as education, health, social malpractices, and economic problems, it can have a significant impact.

“Competition among student organizations during elections is normal,” Minister Paudel said, “but before that, all student unions need to set common agendas and move forward in an organized manner.”

Minister Paudel, who is also a former student leader, recalled that the unity of students in past movements had brought major achievements, and emphasized that such unity is still needed today. According to him, cooperation among student organizations is essential to achieve results on class-related issues.

Likewise, he pointed out that student activism should also raise its voice against current issues in the country such as the shortage of blood, challenges in organ transplantation, the problem of sickle cell anemia, delays in the justice system, and harmful beliefs rooted in society.

“Some blood types are hard to find, awareness about organ transplantation is low, and there are delays in the process of getting justice – such issues should be key agendas of student activism,” Minister Paudel clarified.

He expressed his belief that student movements can still have a positive impact by addressing contemporary social and health-related problems.