Kathmandu, September 18

Two agencies and four individuals were honoured by the Ministry of Health and Population today in recognition of their remarkable contribution to promoting family planning in the country.

The Family Health Division of MoHP felicitated the United Nations Population Fund, Sunaulo Pariwar Nepal, Dr Saraswoti Padhhe, Dr Jeevan Bhandari, Prof Dr Kokila Vaidya and Bishnu Shrestha during a programme organised on the occasion of the second National Family Planning Day in Kathmandu.

Member of National Planning Commission Dr Yagya Bahadur Karki, Secretary at MoHP Shanta Bahadur Shrestha and Dr Senendra Raj Uprety, Director General of the Department of Health Services felicitated them by offering appreciation plaques, shawls and flowers.

On the occasion, Dr Karki said family planning brings prosperity to families, communities and the country. He also said that Nepal has always been prioritizing family planning and adequate investment in family planning alongside health, education and gender empowerment can help the country reap the benefits of the demographic dividend.

FHD Director Dr Pushpa Chaudhary informed about the progress made to date in increasing uptake of family planning and some of the new initiatives aimed at reaching the most marginalised. She called for more investment in family planning as recommended by the Costed Implementation Plan recently drafted with UNFPA’s support.

Co-chair of External Development Partners and UNFPA Representative Giulia Vallese said an investment of a rupee in family planning can give a return of three rupees, adding that access to safe and voluntary family planning is a human right. She hailed some of the government’s achievements and noted how some innovative programmes such as micro planning is essential in increasing contraceptive prevalence rates in some of the districts.

Dr Uprety, director general of the Department of Health Services, acknowledged UNFPA’s contribution, particularly in averting stock-outs of contraceptives in the country.