On 6 and 7 November, 2015 - Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) under of Department of Health Services (DoHS), Ministry of Health and Population successfully hosted the first ever national symposium on Viral Hepatitis E in Nepal (Picture 1) The main objective of the symposium was to bring all key government officials, academicians, physicians and public health professionals into one forum and thereby share, discuss, reflect and question on the epidemiology, surveillance, diagnostics, clinical presentations and associated complications and preventive measures so far in Nepali soil by Nepali themselves. In this way, I would consider, the symposium had left a remarkable impression among delegates that we have so much resources and understanding about the diseases that we are able to do any complicated studies with our own resources.
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| Picture 1: Inauguration of the first HEV symposium in Nepal (6 Nov, 2015) Photo Courtesy: @Yeti4mNepal |
In this effort, as I mentioned in the earlier post, this symposium would not have been possible without the leadership of Dr. Baburam Marasini, current director of EDCD, Dr. Guna Nidhi Sharma, Deputy Health Administrator, Mr. Resham Lamichhane, Mr. Bhim Prasad Sapkota and many other important personalities from the team at EDCD. Not to forget, UNICEF country office - Nepal wholeheartedly supported this symposium along with International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and GTA - Nepal. There are other important dignitaries who have supported this symposium - namely Drs. Sarala Malla (Ohm Hospital), Buddha Basnyat (PAHS), Shyam Raj Upreti (GTA), Ganesh Dangal (NESOG), Ananta Shrestha (Liver Clinic), Nabin Rayamajhi (PAHS), Mr. Deepak Bajracharya, Lenjana Jimi & Kshitij Karki (GTA). Other dignitaries from BPKHIS, Dhulikhel Hospital under Kathmandu University, Sukraj Tropical Hospital were also actively involved for the success of this symposium. I would also say that Dr. Samir Dixit (Center for Molecular Dynamic Nepal) was also our attraction among our delegates, who made the symposium lively with practical questions and suggestions to the speakers. Above all, the group discussion was very fruitful in that it brought significant numbers of practical recommendations.
We strongly believe with local voices that represent the "real" public health need of curative and of course, effective preventive measures have to be elevated to new heights. When we say "new heights" - it means that there is a strong need for applying the available public health tools or medicaments through the principle of equal access to vaccine or diagnostics at affordable prices in the community. The symposium has generated recommendations both programmatic and academic so the moral responsibilities lie with us (including international organizations / research organizations / vaccine companies) to move forward with concrete measures in HEV prevention and control in future.
Recommended reading:
1. Report on the International Symposium on HEV, Seoul, South Korea, 2010
2. Hepatitis E Epidemic, Biratnagar, Nepal, 2014
20 Nov, 2015
We strongly believe with local voices that represent the "real" public health need of curative and of course, effective preventive measures have to be elevated to new heights. When we say "new heights" - it means that there is a strong need for applying the available public health tools or medicaments through the principle of equal access to vaccine or diagnostics at affordable prices in the community. The symposium has generated recommendations both programmatic and academic so the moral responsibilities lie with us (including international organizations / research organizations / vaccine companies) to move forward with concrete measures in HEV prevention and control in future.
Recommended reading:
1. Report on the International Symposium on HEV, Seoul, South Korea, 2010
2. Hepatitis E Epidemic, Biratnagar, Nepal, 2014
20 Nov, 2015
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