AGP Executive Report

Japanese Encephalitis Watch: Nepal has confirmed 131 Japanese encephalitis cases this year, with 28 deaths reported; 87% of patients were unvaccinated, and most infections are linked to communities near paddy fields and pig farms. Road Safety Law: A new draft Road Safety Act (2083) would make people placing stones, sand, rods, bricks or other goods on roads/footpaths financially liable if accidents happen. Bus Accident Update: A passenger bus overturned in Daunne, Nawalparasi East on the East-West Highway, killing six and injuring 10; police cite brake failure in a preliminary probe. Public Health at Political Events: The Nepali Congress general convention will run a health desk staffed by 30 workers, offering free basic checks and emergency support with ambulances on standby. Health Desk Coverage: Ambulance drivers involved in managing bodies after the Bhotekoshi flood were honoured in Chitwan for their disaster role. Community Health: Nepal’s JE vaccination campaign continues in affected districts, targeting adults 30+ and health workers, alongside mosquito-bite precautions.

Road Safety: A passenger bus overturned at Daunne, Nawalparasi (Binayi Triveni Rural Municipality-2) on the East-West Highway, killing six and injuring 12; the injured were sent to Madhyabindu Provincial Hospital, with some referred for further care. Public Health: Nepal has confirmed 131 Japanese encephalitis cases in 2026, with 28 deaths; 87% of patients were unvaccinated, and vaccination campaigns are ongoing in Jhapa and parts of Kailali. Disaster Risk Reduction: Nepal plans to drain four high-altitude glacial lakes this fiscal year to reduce flood risk after a deadly glacier disaster; design work for lakes including Thulagi and Lower Barun is set to begin, with regulated drainage into nearby rivers. Community Care: A free eye camp in Parsa benefited 187 people; 34 with cataract symptoms received medicine and eye drops, with free surgery planned at Birgunj on Oct 5. Health Services at Events: A health desk with 30 workers is set up at the Nepali Congress General Convention, offering free check-ups and emergency support with ambulances on standby.

Flood & maternal health: Floods from the Aug 26 disaster have pushed at least 33 pregnant women from Rasuwa and Nuwakot to Kathmandu for childbirth after roads and local services were cut, with some airlifted and deliveries planned at major city hospitals. Glacial risk reduction: Nepal plans to drain four high glacial lakes this fiscal year to reduce the chance of natural dams breaching, with design work for four lakes starting and funding via the Green Climate Fund. Mount Himlung avalanche response: Rescuers recovered eight more bodies at the base camp, raising the Himlung death toll to 15, while one climber remains missing and recovery is paused due to hazards. Scrub typhus in Salyan: An EDCD expert team is investigating a scrub typhus outbreak in Salyan after 458 tested positive and nine deaths were reported in recent weeks, with screening and awareness efforts underway. Immunization planning in Kathmandu: Kathmandu Metropolitan City is preparing a detailed routine vaccination action plan covering both government and private providers, aiming to identify children who missed doses and update ward-level coverage data. Parliament & health sector concerns: MPs raised issues from alleged irregularities at National Medical College in Birgunj to road accident concerns, while also calling for better farmer support and timely services. Senior citizens knowledge bank: The government announced a “Senior Citizens’ Experience Bank” to document elders’ skills and life lessons using digital tools for younger generations.

Senior Citizens & Health Policy: Nepal’s Ministry has initiated a process to create a “Senior Citizen Experience Bank,” using digital archiving to preserve seniors’ life lessons and transfer skills to younger generations. Public Health Watch: A WHO report flags that over half of cholera patients in Bangladesh are children under five, underscoring how quickly waterborne disease hits the most vulnerable. Tobacco Harm in South Asia: A Lancet Global Health study estimates chewing tobacco caused about 251,000 deaths worldwide in 2023, with roughly 84% concentrated in South Asia; Nepal’s chewing tobacco prevalence is reported at 17.5%. Disaster Health & Recovery: Nepal’s avalanche at Mount Himlung has killed 15 after eight more bodies were recovered; search continues for the last missing person. Climate-Health Funding: Corus International received a $6.4m Takeda grant to strengthen early warning and climate-resilient health systems in Nepal. Regulation & Care Access: Ayurveda Medical Council Nepal shut down a non-compliant Ayurveda institution in Kathmandu and warned of further closures; Kathmandu Metropolitan City also expanded vaccination micro-planning to cover public and private providers.

AMR Spotlight: WHO-backed exhibition at the European Parliament highlights antimicrobial resistance as a “silent pandemic,” warning drug misuse in people, animals and food is driving drug-resistant deaths. Aviation Safety & Health: Nepal’s Domestic Airlines Liability Bill is set for Friday passage, proposing up to $100,000 compensation for serious injury, disability or death, with insurance disclosure and a 120-day claim window. Flood Recovery & WASH: One month after the Bhotekoshi flood, Nepal is shifting toward recovery, resettlement and reconstruction; meanwhile, drinking water was restored for 180 flood-affected households in Dhading via repaired deep-boring schemes supported by the Nepal Red Cross. Medicinal Supply Chain: A taskforce will be formed to boost Singhadurbar Vaidhyakhana medicinal production by improving collection, preservation and processing of herbs. Ayurveda Regulation: Ayurveda Medical Council Nepal has started shutting down non-compliant Ayurveda institutions after inspections. Public Health Policy: Kathmandu Metropolitan City expands vaccination micro-planning to include public and private providers to reduce missed children and wastage. Tobacco Warning: A new study links chewing tobacco to about 251,000 deaths worldwide in 2023, with South Asia—including Nepal—carrying a heavy burden. Workplace Rights: Government proposes menstrual leave for female civil servants, adding another workplace health-rights debate to Nepal’s policy agenda.

Doctor Workload Crackdown: Nepal’s resident doctors say a legal loophole in the Medical Education Act lets colleges label them “students” while treating them like permanent staff, pushing workloads up to 135 hours a week. Health System Reform: Health Minister Nisha Mehta says proposed CDC, FDA and NHAA structures are meant to strengthen disease surveillance, drug/food regulation and health accreditation without duplicating or weakening existing institutions. Flood Recovery Pressure: A month after the Bhotekoshi floods, survivors in Rasuwa still face broken roads and lost livelihoods, with relief easing the first weeks but rebuilding and earning routes still blocked. Disaster Risk Warning: Nepal’s UN climate warning highlights how warming Himalayas are increasing cascading hazards; MPs also urge stronger climate justice and climate finance planning for COP-31, including early warning and safe housing. Plastic Bag Ban Enforced: The Supreme Court orders nationwide strict enforcement of the 40-micron plastic bag ban, citing weak coordination and delayed implementation. Food Safety Alert: Rara instant noodles (batch REG 01, Feb 5, 2026) are recalled for failing quality standards. Connectivity for Health Posts: Wireless internet is planned for flood-hit Rasuwa and Nuwakot to restore links for schools, health posts and public services. Mental Health in the Aftermath: Flood-affected families report ongoing trauma and distress, especially among the elderly and those who lost relatives.

Bhotekoshi Flood Recovery: A month after the Bhotekoshi floods hit Rasuwa, the immediate danger may have eased, but roads, bridges and schools are still damaged, leaving families in holding centres and struggling to rebuild livelihoods. Disaster Trauma & Care: Survivors describe ongoing fear during rain, with some needing follow-up treatment after injuries and surgeries. Insurance Relief: Nepal Insurance Authority introduced a simplified Rasuwa flood claim settlement procedure, letting insurers settle technically uncomplicated claims up to Rs 500,000 without a surveyor and allowing advance payments. Nutrition & Breastfeeding: Stakeholders urged safe, nutritious festival eating, warning about adulteration and improper meat storage; separate coverage highlights low early breastfeeding rates and pushes for stronger breastfeeding support, including policy moves like paid maternity leave. Eye Health Access: A workshop in Biratnagar focused on making eye care more accessible and inclusive for persons with disabilities. Health & Safety in Daily Life: Experts warned that viral infections rise with weather changes, and a medical report linked headphone pressure to ear hematoma. Education & Health Systems: Purbanchal University approved Rs 1.99 billion, prioritising tech and expansion of medical education, including a new 100-bed hospital.

Breastfeeding Push: Nepal is still falling short on early and exclusive breastfeeding, with only 55% of babies breastfed within the first hour and just 70% exclusively breastfed under six months; bottle-feeding is also high (28% overall, up to 51% in Bagmati), and experts warn inadequate breastfeeding costs Nepal about Rs 21 billion annually while families spend billions on breast milk substitutes. Flood Health & Recovery: Monsoon disasters continue to strain health and shelter systems, with Nepal’s rain-induced floods and landslides raising deaths to 35 and injuring 15, while many families—especially women and pregnant people—still lack safe housing, privacy, and basic facilities. Health Funding & Policy: The Cabinet approved accepting a $20.7m US grant for health service reforms and also moved bills in Parliament, including changes to the Animal Slaughterhouse and Meat Inspection Act and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. Disaster Risk Governance: Lawmakers urged faster reconstruction and safer relocation, calling for stronger disaster risk management and better access to health, education, drinking water, and rural infrastructure. Public Health Safety Nets: Nepal’s Supreme Court ordered strict enforcement of the plastic bag ban, linking clean environment protections to the right to live with dignity.

Flood Recovery & Maternal Health: One month after Nepal’s Aug 26 flash floods, pregnant 26-year-old Karishma Tamang in Rasuwa/Nuwakot is still living in a leaky tent with no proper toilets, highlighting how displaced women and children lack privacy, safety and stable shelter. Disaster Governance: A month after the Bhote Koshi–Trishuli disaster, Nepal’s recovery is shifting from rescue to long-term rebuilding, with officials citing 1,453 deaths and thousands still missing, while lawmakers push for stronger disaster risk reduction and safer relocation. World Heart Day (Nepal): A Nepal heart specialist links rising heart disease to lifestyle risks like high BP, diabetes and cholesterol, plus better detection through check-ups. Cardiac Risk in South Asia: Experts warn Pakistani women face the highest ischemic heart disease death rate among five South Asian countries, urging screening and follow-up. Plastic Bag Ban: Nepal’s Supreme Court orders strict nationwide enforcement of the plastic bag ban and single-use plastic limits. Health & Aid Access: A UK charity says it has dispatched the first batch of solar equipment for flood-hit Nepal to power medical centres and villages. Policy & Institutions: The HoR tables the National Defence University Bill and discusses health-science university proposals for Madhesh.

Disaster Response & Public Health: Nepal’s flood aftermath is still unfolding, with Western Nepal reporting floods and landslides displacing nearly 750 families and killing 20+ people, while aid groups push shelter and hygiene support and warn needs will be long-term. Disaster Victim Identification: One month after the Aug 26 Bhotekoshi floods, Nepal has recovered 1,453 bodies but only 112 have been identified via DNA, leaving 1,333 in temporary graves as DNA matching continues amid thousands still missing. Mountain Safety: The Himlung Himal avalanche in Manang has killed four after two more bodies were recovered; search efforts continue for the remaining missing climbers and guides. Healthcare Worker Protection: The House of Representatives unanimously approved a proposal to consider the Bill on Security of Health Workers and Health Institutions (Second Amendment), aiming to curb attacks on doctors and health staff. Rabies Alert: Nepal faces rising animal bites and a rabies vaccine shortage; a separate report notes Bhutan has been certified rabies-free for dog-bite transmission, while Nepal struggles with supply gaps and delayed vaccination. Maternal & Infant Health Law: HoR also passed the Mother’s Milk Substitutes (Control of Sale and Distribution) (First Amendment) Bill, reinforcing mother’s milk priority and regulating substitutes.

Avalanche Response: Nepal’s Himlung Himal disaster update shows 4 dead and 12 still missing after a Sunday avalanche; 10 climbers were rescued and airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment as Manang authorities report weekend rain-driven flooding and landslides. Flood & Landslide Toll: Heavy monsoon rains have killed at least 21 people nationwide (with 5 missing and 5 injured), disrupting roads and hydropower supply and forcing evacuations to safer shelters. Reproductive Health Law: Nepal reopens debate on abortion rights as a new bill seeks to ease legal barriers, amid concerns that restrictive rules can push women toward unsafe procedures. Parliament Health Bills: Six bills were tabled in the HoR, including amendments on mother’s milk substitutes, safe motherhood and reproductive health, and changes affecting health professionals and institutions. Public Debt Watch: Nepal’s public debt reached 45.05% of GDP by mid-September, with debt servicing already costing Rs 85.01bn in the first two months of FY 2026/27. Disaster Preparedness: Officials and lawmakers continue pushing for stronger monsoon disaster preparedness and response, as recovery needs expand beyond immediate rescue. Court & Cyber Case: Medical entrepreneur Durga Prasai was remanded for 3 days for investigation over alleged derogatory social media remarks.

Parliament & Health Bills: Federal Parliament convenes today with the House of Representatives set for 11:00 AM and the National Assembly at 1:15 PM, including multiple health-related bills—breast-milk substitutes controls, safe motherhood and reproductive health rights, and security for health workers and institutions. Pharmacy Governance Row: The Nepal Pharmacy Association protests the Ministry of Health’s process for Nepal Pharmacy Council member appointments, alleging the interview list was re-opened with new names after delays and demanding the legal basis be clarified. Flood Aftermath—Public Safety: PM Balendra Shah urges people to avoid non-essential travel and stay vigilant in riverbank and hilly areas, noting free medical treatment for disaster-injured and warning against misinformation and black marketing. Child Protection in Displacement: Save the Children says girls’ protection must be intensified one month after the Aug 26 floods, citing trafficking/violence risks, privacy concerns in holding centres, and unsafe camp conditions; it calls for stronger monitoring, awareness, and psychosocial support. Disaster Toll & Response: Police report 15 deaths and 1,284 people rescued over four days, while Nepal Army highlights tunnel rescues as the most challenging part of response and notes thousands receiving emergency medical services. Cross-border Identification Help: Singapore assisted in identifying flood victims after two families claimed the same body, using fingerprint comparison. Regional Disruption: Túins across the Trishuli River in Nuwakot are closed due to heavy rain and operational risks, forcing longer detours for daily travel.

Flood Response & Health Services: Nepal Police and security agencies report renewed rain-triggered floods and landslides across provinces, with at least six deaths, two injured, and 407 people rescued and moved to safer locations, while health facilities and rescue teams keep operating as risks rise. Tunnel Rescue Lessons: The Nepali Army says tunnel-based search and rescue during the BhoteKoshi disaster was the toughest part, with emergency treatment centres set up in Trishuli and Dhunche, medical patrols reaching 4,003 people, and severely injured patients airlifted to Birendra Hospital. Missing Persons & Identification Support: Singapore’s fingerprint specialists helped resolve a body-claim dispute after Aug 26 flooding, using comparison checks to confirm the body didn’t match either family. Disaster Preparedness: Nepal’s disaster risk chief urges stronger Himalayan monitoring, trans-boundary early-warning systems, and risk-informed settlement planning to reduce limited warning time for river communities. Health Policy in Parliament: The Federal Parliament Secretariat lists upcoming House of Representatives agenda items including multiple health-sector bills, such as amendments tied to breast milk controls, safe motherhood and reproductive health rights, and security for health workers and institutions. Mental Health & Public Safety: A renewed call for serious discussion follows recurring suicide and self-immolation incidents, including a bus driver’s Tripureshwor case, highlighting gaps in mental-health access. Flood Aftercare in Nuwakot: Armed Police Force Nepal reports health camps and check-ups for over 4,500 flood-affected people, including special screening and counselling for inmates, plus sanitization steps to curb post-disaster outbreaks.

Bhotekoshi Flood Recovery: Nepal’s disaster agency says 5,285 people are still unaccounted for a month after the Aug 26 floods, with 1,451 bodies recovered and DNA samples collected from 2,060 people to help identify victims; 13,795 people have been rescued and thousands have received medical care and support through holding centers, while identification remains a major challenge. Relief & Health Response: The Nepal Red Cross reports relief distribution plus WASH support, health checkups, medicines, and mental health and psychosocial services for flood-affected communities, as search and rescue shifts toward longer-term recovery. Roads, Food Access & Health Risks: In Rasuwa’s Rasuwagadhi, road network severance is deepening shortages and raising costs for essentials, adding pressure on health and livelihoods in border settlements. Safe Abortion Update: In FY 2082/83, 105,628 women accessed safe abortion services nationwide, with medication used by most; stigma, distance, cost, and provider shortages still limit access. Heart Health Push: Bagmati Province marks World Heart Day with pledges to expand specialist and integrated health services and strengthen prevention and awareness. Monsoon Hazard Watch: Fluctuating Saptakoshi water levels are alarming riverside residents as heavy-rain forecasts persist, with police using loudspeakers to warn locals.

Safe Abortion Access: In FY 2082/83, 105,628 women accessed safe abortion services in Nepal, slightly down from the prior year; 71.25% used medication and 28.7% chose surgical methods, with Bagmati highest and Karnali lowest. Flood Health Crisis: One month after the Aug 26 Bhotekoshi floods, Nepal reports 1,453 deaths and 5,285 still missing; 13,795 people have been rescued and about 10,988 received medical care, while DNA profiling is being used to identify badly damaged remains. Disaster Identification Support: Singapore’s Operation Vanguard team helped Nepal with disaster victim identification, including fingerprinting and post-mortems, supporting families seeking answers. Maternal Health & Rights: A World Contraception Day/Safe Abortion Day session highlighted that investing in sexual and reproductive health can save lives and reduce unsafe abortions. Heart Day Commitment: Bagmati Province Chief Minister Kiran Thapa pledged to improve access to health services, including specialist care and nutrition programmes. Weather Alerts: Heavy rainfall in Kaski and surrounding districts triggered flood alerts as rivers neared alert levels. Rural Incident: A landslide in Dolpa killed one person and injured another after a rock struck a makeshift hut.

Bhotekoshi Flood Recovery: One month after the Aug. 26 Bhotekoshi flash floods, Nepal reports 1,453 deaths and 5,550 missing, with 13,795 people rescued and many still in temporary shelters; damage is estimated at over Rs 408.28 billion and reconstruction needs put at Rs 723.3152 billion, with health facilities, schools, homes, bridges and hydropower among the hardest hit. Climate Justice at the UN: Prime Minister Balendra Shah told the UN General Assembly the disaster is “a warning to the world,” arguing Nepal contributed less than 0.1% of heat-trapping gases yet is paying the price, and pushing for faster, fair climate action. Cross-Border Disaster Plan: Shah also proposed a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism with India and China—covering satellite data sharing, monitoring glacial lakes, joint early warnings and coordinated response. Food Security Support: The World Food Programme says it is still reaching flood-affected families in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading using trucks, helicopters and even cargo drones, delivering 127MT of food to 15,500 people after disrupted markets and livelihoods. Health System Strain & Workforce: Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital announced contract nurse vacancies, while a Medical Education Struggle Campaign alleged serious mistreatment and rule violations affecting resident doctors at National Medical College in Birgunj. Flood-Related Care Stories: Kabir Maharjan, rescued after 10 days trapped in a hydropower tunnel, has been discharged after recovery. Public Health Risk Alerts: Authorities issued heavy-rain and landslide cautions as monsoon conditions continue, with calls for stronger preparedness and emergency health services.