Nepal Health News, Kathmandu:The Government of Nepal, through the Ministry of Health and Population, has launched a new initiative aimed at improving health across the country and reducing the prevalence of diseases. Starting from the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83 (2025/26), the ministry plans to implement a health promotion program titled “I Am Healthy, My Community Is Healthy.”
According to the Secretariat of Health Minister Pradeep Paudel, under this program, Public Health Officers will be appointed in every rural municipality and municipality. While public health personnel have already been present in metropolitan and sub-metropolitan cities, the ministry stated that preparations are underway to deploy seventh-level Public Health Officers to the remaining 736 local levels.
The program aims to empower communities by focusing on areas such as identifying public health problems, reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), raising mental health awareness, preventing suicide, improving sanitation, and promoting healthy lifestyles. A nationwide health screening campaign is also scheduled to take place in the month of Falgun (around February–March).
A detailed working guideline is being prepared to clarify the roles of these Public Health Officers. It will include components such as school health, safe drinking water, nutrition, and other community-level health initiatives. These officers will work in coordination with school nurses and local health institutions to collect data, analyze problems, and ensure effective program implementation.
According to Minister Paudel’s advisor, Pratap Paudel, the rising challenge of non-communicable diseases due to unhealthy lifestyles and changing dietary habits has necessitated such a program.
“The biggest current threat to public health is non-communicable diseases. It has become essential to mobilize human resources at the local level to prevent them,” he said.
This program is expected to educate citizens on preventive health measures, help in early identification of risk factors, and reduce the government’s healthcare expenditure.
