Globally, progress on SDG-3 (health and wellbeing) and SDG-5 (gender equality) has been at best, patchy and fragile and far from being satisfactory. Anti-rights and anti-gender pushes are threatening to reverse some gains made on health and gender equality.
Dr Devkota echoes the sense of urgency that should drive spirited action to keep the promises enshrined in the SDGs. The clock is ticking, and the urgency is real for Nepal. This moment is not only about reflecting our progress but also about reaffirming commitments, embracing accountability and inspiring collective global action. If we see Nepal's public health journey, then it is from fragility to the leadership over the past decades. Nepal has travelled an extraordinary journey in public health despite limited resources, complex geography, frequent crisis from political transitions to devastating earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nepal has demonstrated that determined policies, community ownership and global solidarity can drive remarkable change. Access to sexual and reproductive health and rights in Nepal has expanded significantly supported by progressive legislation such as the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act which was enacted by the federal parliament of Nepal to respect, protect and fulfill women's constitutional rights to safe motherhood and reproductive health by ensuring the provision of safe, quality, affordable and accessible maternal and reproductive health services, said Dr Devkota, who has served Government of Nepal in various leadership roles and currently leads Ministry of Health and Population as its Secretary.
Nepals Aama programme is another sterling example
A cornerstone of Nepal's maternal health progress has been the Aama (translates to mother in Nepalese language) programme, which stands as a flagship policy model of equity in maternal health, eliminating financial barriers so that no person in Nepal has to pay for maternity services.
Aama programme provides financial incentives that empower women to choose safe institutional delivery and reinforcing the capacity of our health workers and institutions. It is not only saving lives but also setting a powerful example on how investment in equity transforms maternal health outcomes. Behind these achievements is the quiet but powerful contribution of nearly 52,000 female community health volunteers - the backbone of Nepal's health system - ensuring that every woman and child, even in the remotest village, can access life-saving care, shared Dr Bikash Devkota.
No one should suffer from vaccine-preventable diseases
Another area of pride is our progress in immunisation and disease elimination. Nepal has maintained over 90% of immunisation coverage under national immunisation programme for several years, said Dr Devkota.
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