Dr Sanjeeb Sapkota, a Medical Epidemiologist, has been working in the public health sector for the past 20 years. After graduating from Tribhuvan University as a medical doctor, he worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) for several years, and later with a number of other public health agencies. He has served as a consultant to Ministries of Health of several countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. He has published several books including on the pandemic. Currently, he leads the Health Committee of Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA). He lives with his wife and two sons in Atlanta in the United States. He spoke to Nepal Live Today regarding the fourth Global Nepali Health Conference being organized in Sydney. Excerpts of the interview:
How is the preparation going on for the fourth Global Nepali Health Conference scheduled to be held from September 16-18 in Sydney?
I would like to begin by saying the Global Nepali Health Conference is the largest conference of the world that addresses the health of people of Nepali origin spread around the world as well as in Nepal by bringing together individuals, organizations, and agencies who work in improving and maintaining the health of Nepalis. The preparation for the fourth Global Nepali Health Conference is almost complete. We have over 50 scientific presentations, six workshops and training, 25 additional sessions, symposiums, webinars, Walk and Run Event, Health Screening and Education session, cultural programs and more.
What is the main theme of the Conference this year? Why is it relevant?
Millions of people suffer from dysfunctional mental health in silence. Believe it or not, at least 2,000 people of Nepali origin died from suicide worldwide during the pandemic. We have estimated that out of them, some 500 Nepalis committed suicide outside Nepal. This is an alarming figure and not acceptable for present day and time. Dysfunctional mental health and depression are the primary reason for suicide. This is the reason the theme chosen this year for the conference is ‘Mental Health for All’. Through this conference, we hope to highlight the value of mental health in improving the quality of lives of people of Nepali origin around the world and in Nepal.
The Health Committee of the NRNA was quite active under your leadership during the Covid-19? What do you think were major accomplishments of the Health Committee?
Gathering weekly credible intelligence and data on the pandemic related infection, recovery and fatality among Nepali community around the world and using the statistics to mobilize resources and making people aware in preventing and treating people through guidelines, webinars and reaching out to people via audio, print, and video have been the major accomplishments of the Global Health Committee during the pandemic.
‘Over 5,000 doctors and 15,000 nurses of Nepali origin practice outside of Nepal in different countries around the world. We have been able to build a network by reaching out to the majority of them.’
You emphasized on bringing health professionals of Nepali Diaspora together and on transferring their skills and expertise back to Nepal. Have there been any major achievements so far?
Over 5,000 doctors and 15,000 nurses of Nepali origin practice outside of Nepal in different countries around the world. We have been able to build a network by reaching out to the majority of them via our different regional health teams in Europe, Africa, Asia, Americas, Australia and New Zealand. We need to continue to work towards uniting these health professionals across the world for the greater good of the Nepali community.
You were trying to collaborate with the Karnali provincial government of Nepal to procure and distribute anti-Covid vaccines. But the project did not take off. What lessons have you learnt?
Vaccine procurement is a complicated lengthy process that inherently involves governments and pharmaceutical industries. Unlike other medical products, vaccines cannot be administered by non-government entities. Plus, the price tag on vaccine supply is astronomical.
‘No one individual or organization of nation can achieve health for all alone. All must collaborate, partner and work in tandem to achieve the best health possible for Nepali community.’
We coordinated with the Nepal government and the government of the country where vaccines are made as well as with the vaccine manufacturers. We learned that only the government can order for the vaccines after making a huge advance payment. Then there was a long delay on the vaccine shipment as the manufacturers are serving on the first come first serve basis. Seeing vaccine procurement is beyond our capacity we diverted our effort on other prevention and treatment interventions.
You have global exposure in the area of health services. In your view, what areas require immediate improvement in Nepal’s health system, and what can be done in the medium and long term?
Sufficient health care facilities across Nepal including in the rural corners; adequate health care professionals in each of these facilities who are well paid and well appreciated; robust, quality laboratory system that is well updated, well funded and well staffed; a robust rapid disease detection mechanism; timely data collection of health events such as outbreak and timely interpretation of the data; a strong focus on public health and prevention and its connections with medical care—these are what we believe are needed in improving Nepal’s health systems.
But, how could that be possible?
Achieving the highest quality of health for Nepali community is not a sprint but a marathon. It is an iterative process that needs adequate commitment. No one individual or organization of nation can achieve health for all alone. All must collaborate, partner and work in tandem to achieve the best health possible for Nepali community.
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