Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population and USAID have jointly launched USAID’s Global Health Security Program, a strategic partnership to strengthen Nepal’s capacity to prevent, detect, and rapidly respond to emerging infectious diseases.
Issuing a statement, USAID said the program will be implemented through ‘One Health’, a collaborative, trans-disciplinary approach that recognizes the interdependence among the health of ecosystems, wildlife and domestic animals, and humans. “This partnership is expected to advance US efforts to strengthen technical capacities in 50 countries by 2025 as part of the Biden Administration’s goal to strengthen health security and pandemic preparedness globally,” the USAID added in the statement. “The COVID-19 pandemic came as a strong reminder of the harm that an emerging zoonotic pathogen can have on human health and global economies. The pandemic also showed us where and how our global health systems need to improve to better identify and contain health threats and fully realize global health security. USAID’s Global Health Security work is helping to fill that gap by strengthening countries’ capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to disease threats before they turn into a pandemic.”
Through Global Health Security in Nepal, USAID will fund the Ministry of Health and Population to strengthen the One Health platform and surveillance systems. USAID will also work through the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
“This program marks a significant step forward in ensuring the health and security of the Nepali population and reflects USAID’s ongoing commitment to global health and pandemic preparedness,” USAID’s Assistant Administrator for Bureau of Asia, Michael Schiffer, said at the launch event in Kathmandu on Sunday.
