Top Ten Public Health Issues in Nepal

Nepal faces several public health challenges, including childhood diseases, maternal health issues, and water sanitation problems. These issues contribute to high mortality rates and health disparities across the country. Seasonal diseases like diarrhea, along with malnutrition and neonatal mortality, are leading health concerns. Maternal health complications and inadequate facilities in rural areas further complicate the public health situation. Diseases like tuberculosis, vector-borne illnesses, and zoonotic diseases pose additional threats. Non-communicable diseases are on the rise, as well as the impacts of natural disasters and substance use. Public health interventions are vital to address these challenges.
Here is a list of the top 10 public health issues in Nepal.

1. Childhood Diseases

Seasonal diarrheal diseases and respiratory diseases are one of top public health issues in Nepal, affecting a substantial number of children in Nepal leading to deaths and developmental delays. The malnourished and undernourished children are equally prevalent and Hence childhood diseases are still the number one priority in public health in Nepal. Neonatal mortality rate (21 per 1000), infant mortality rate (32 per 1000), and under 5 mortality rate (39 per 1000), are still high enough making it the number one public health problem in Nepal.

2. Water and Sanitation

There are 38% of households without improved sanitary facilities in Nepal.

3. Maternal and perinatal health problems

Still, women in Nepal die during pregnancy and childbirth due to untimely management of complications such as antepartum hemorrhage, postpartum hemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, and eclampsia is one of the top Public Health Issues in Nepal. This is especially intensified by the lack of adequate facilities and manpower in rural areas of the country. Even though tertiary-level care facilities are available in major cities, many parts of the country are devoid of such care and it takes several hours or days to reach such care resulting in delays in care and, subsequently fatal consequences to many women and children.

4. Sexually transmitted diseases and Other communicable diseases

Tuberculosis is endemic in Nepal. Vector-borne diseases such as malaria, Leishmaniasis (Kala-azar), and Dengue, are also endemic in certain tropical regions (plains) of Nepal. Sexually transmitted disease such as HIV/AIDS is present as a concentrated epidemic in certain groups such as sex workers, intravenous drug users, migrant workers, and wives of migrant workers.

5. Epidemics/Pandemics and zoonotic diseases

Most of the pandemics are zoonotic diseases which is one of the top top Public Health Issues in Nepal; they contract humans easily as they are novel and humans are susceptible due to their inability to fight against new diseases as they lack antibodies and memory cells against such diseases. The recent phenomena of unregulated mass production of poultry and close living provision with the animals also lead to zoonotic diseases.

6. Non-communicable diseases

The occurrence of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart diseases other cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney diseases have surged along with modernization in lifestyle. They are the leading reasons for mortality and the burden of diseases.

7. Natural disaster and Preparedness

Nepal is continuously at risk of natural disasters due to its topographical/geographical features which creates one of the top Public Health Issues in Nepal. Nepal is in constant threat of earthquakes as this lies in the Himalayan range; the floods during the rainy seasons pose an equal threat to the lives of the residents of the Hills and plain. The massive earthquake in 2015, the frequent landslides, and the yearly floods in the major rivers of Nepal create a chaotic condition that requires the immediate attention of every sector including public health professionals. As people in such situations are at risk of so many health problems such as injuries, diarrheal disease epidemic, devoid of water and sanitation, food and security, they require immediate first aid, safe sanitation and water facilities, food, security, reproductive health services, and mental health counseling and management. Disaster preparedness and effective communication channels are must-have public health programs in Nepal.

8. Substance use disorders

Alcoholic dependence and liver diseases are very common in those people though they are under-focused by the current health system. Alcohol dependence not only affects the health of the sufferer, it also affects the social relationships, economy, and family relationships. Tobacco use is also a common substance and its use is ubiquitous in the form of smoking, and chewing form in Nepal; shisha hookah is established as a recent trend among youth. Other substances like Marijuana and heroin are also threatening public health concerns to the youth of Nepal.

9. Disparity in the Health System

Though the number of hospitals and the number of health professionals have increased significantly in the last two decades, people from rural areas and poor urban areas don’t have adequate access to health care. Disparity in health care access is affected by different elements ranging from individual attributes such as ignorance fueled by low education, and low income; to systematic biases created by the system and policies.

10. Mental health Problems

The years-long political conflicts, low economy, disasters, increasing social distances, individualistic life approach, high pressure for achievement, rapid urbanization, employment abroad, etc. aggravate the mental health needs of the population.

VIN has been implementing Public health and Medical care program in three districts of Nepal to address the above issues. Our public health approach is to create healthy communities. For this, we worked with local community health institutions. We do medical care, public health education (focus on women and children), school health, health camps, first aid, and Yoga projects. Public health professionals and volunteers are involved in the project to meet the target of the project.

– Dr. Laxmi Pd Ghimire
Program Manager (Volunteers Initiative Nepal)

Reference:

1. http://publichealthinnepal.blogspot.com/2017/06/top-ten-public-health-issues-in-nepal.html
2. Nepal Demography Health Survey Report 2016