WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and his delegation arrived in Kathmandu today for a three-day official visit

Kathmandu: H.E. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), arrived in Kathmandu this afternoon on an official visit. Dr. Tedros was received at the airport by Dr. Roshan Pokhrel, Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population along with other senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and Health and Population. Dr. Tedros is accompanied by Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South East Asia Regional Office, and other officials of WHO.

In the afternoon, Dr. Tedros had a meeting with Hon. Mr. Birodh Khatiwada, Minister for Health and Population. During the meeting, issues related to further strengthening the cooperation between Nepal and WHO, including COVID vaccines support to Nepal were discussed.

Later, Hon. Dr. Narayan Khadka, Minister for Foreign Affairs received the Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hon. Foreign Minister appreciated the leadership of WHO during the COVID pandemic and expressed thanks to the Director General for his unfailing support to Nepal during the COVID crisis, including through vaccine support. The Foreign Minister also thanked the Director General for decades of cooperation from WHO to Nepal in the prevention and control of diseases and provision of vaccines and technical assistance in critical areas of public health.

The WHO Director General also called on Rt. Hon. Mr. Ganesh Prashad Timilsina, Chairperson of the National Assembly, later in the afternoon. While appreciating the WHO’s cooperation to Nepal in different areas of health sectors, Rt. Hon. Timilsina underlined the importance of WHO’s continued support to Nepal during major health emergencies, including COVID pandemic.

Hon. Minister for Health and Population is hosting official dinner in the honour of the visiting Director-General of WHO and his delegation, this evening.