Minister Pokhrel meets Indian counterpart in Geneva
Minister for Health and Population Giriraj Mani Pokharel met with the Minister of Health of India Dr. A. Ramadas on Tuesday afternoon on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva.
During the meeting, Minister Pokharel appraised the efforts of Nepal government in providing better health services to the poor and marginalised people and expressed appreciation to the Indian government for their support in diverse health-related areas.
Minister Pokharel stressed that in the juncture of Nepal's political change and growing popular expectation, continued and enhanced Indian assistance in the health sector would be even more instrumental for the overall development of health infrastructures in Nepal, a statement by Nepal mission in Geneva reads.
"In view of close social, cultural relations and contiguity of our geography, better cooperation in the health sector would benefit the people in the both sides of the border which would also help in the containment of communicable diseases such as, Malaria, Kala-ajar, Dengue, Poliomyelitis as and when they occur and spread beyond the border," Minister Pokharel stated.
Highlighting the friendly relations between the two countries, Indian Minister Dr Ramadas expressed his government's willingness to continue to support Nepal in the efforts to extend the outreach of health services to the people at large.
He said that the two countries have potential opportunities to explore how to benefit from their experience in the areas of Ayurvedic and traditional medicine, and from the rich reservoir of medicinal plants across the subcontinent.
Similarly, Minister Pokharel also met with the Secretary of State for Public Health of Switzerland, Thomas Zeltner, on Tuesday. During the meeting the two Ministers shared views on range of issues related to bilateral cooperation between Switzerland and Nepal.
Minister Pokhrel emphasised for greater cooperation in the sectors directly related to enhance the quality of lives of the people.
Expressing satisfaction on the important political change in Nepal, the Swiss Minister asked Pokharel to set up the priorities sectors of the Nepal government where Swiss government can extend support.
Stating that Swiss government has placed Nepal as the first priority country in development cooperation, he assured that this stream of cooperation would continue. He also stressed that Nepal's priority areas will be favorably considered while taking decision of development assistance.
Minister Pokharel also met Minister of Health of Mozambique Dr P. I. Garrido and Uganda Dr S. O. Mallinga on the same day. nepalnews.com ia May 16 07
