Tokyo, Japan: The fifth Global Nepali Health Conference organized from September 15-17 in the Japanese capital concluded by issuing 20-point Tokyo Declaration. The conference themed ‘ Migrant Health Matters, Universal Health Care for All’ witnessed the participation of expert individuals, doctors , nurses, organizations, associations, and agencies from Japan, Nepal, and around the world. Swasthya Khabar Patrika, sister publication of Nepal Live Today, was the media partner of the event.
The Declaration signed by Dr Aliza K C Bhandari, Chair of Fifth Global Nepali Health Conference, Dr. Lushun Chalise, Chair of Scientific Committee, Dr Sunil Sah, Co-Chair of Global Health Committee and Dr Sanjeeb Sapkota, Chair of Global Health Committee has acknowledged the unique role and accountability of the participants in improving the health and well-being of Nepali migrants working globally and their access to basic healthcare.
What’s in the declaration?
The Declaration has included following points as realities and commitments for maintaining health and improving it for the Nepali people around the world:
1. Health as a universal human right is a priority for all individuals, communities, states, and nations. We affirm the importance of ensuring that no Nepalese person is left behind in accessing health information and services worldwide.
2. We call upon governments of host countries, where Nepalese reside, study, or work, to guarantee access to basic universal health care for Nepalese migrants. We also urge bilateral and multilateral agencies, organizations, and associations to recognize and address the health needs of migrants.
3. Integrated medical care, nursing care, and public health management are essential for effectively addressing diseases and their risk factors. We acknowledge the significant role of health advocates and activists in this integrated approach.
4. Migrants face unique health challenges, and we recognize the need for tailored approaches to address these challenges effectively.
5. We note the alarming increase in migrant suicides and its socio-economic impact. We call upon Nepali mental health professionals around the world to unite and provide support for those affected.
6. We advocate for integrated healthcare provision to maximize health benefits, whether for diseases like diabetes, depression, cancer, or COVID-19, and their risk factors such as obesity, malnutrition, or physical inactivity.
7. Achieving comprehensive health management requires collaborative effort of clinicians, public health experts, nurses, and social health workers. This conference aims to bring these healthcare professionals together for holistic health care.
8. We acknowledge the essential role of each participant, partner, individual, agency, and organization in providing healthcare to Nepalese globally.
9. Recognizing health inequity as a cause of health disparities, we emphasize the need to discuss and address its root causes effectively.
10. We pledge to unite in a global network of health professionals to improve healthcare delivery for the Nepalese community. We also call upon Nepali-origin nurses, whether affiliated with health teams worldwide or working independently, to join a network of Nepalese nurses to enhance healthcare for the Nepalese community.
11. We are delighted to witness the launch of the Japan Nepali Medical Association, which aims to strengthen networking among Nepalese health professionals and provide services to medically marginalized Nepalese migrants in Japan.
12. We acknowledge the main barriers to migrants’ access to healthcare are language, culture, legal and financial status, education level, and unseen biases. This conference takes a significant step towards removing these barriers and improving healthcare for migrants by providing a solid platform for various individuals and organizations working on migrants to connect to relevant experts and agencies.
13. Recognizing the importance of mental health in overall well-being, we commit to addressing mental health issues within our healthcare initiatives.
14. We highlight the significance of research in the development of the health sector and pledge to support Nepalese researchers worldwide.
15. The health of women, including preventive, curative, and promotive care, is crucial for families, communities, and nations. We call upon all stakeholders to prioritize and enhance the health of Nepalese women worldwide.
16. We strive to establish telehealth, language services, referrals, and online translation services for community members in need.
17. Collaboration among healthcare professionals can enhance our efforts and lead to improved health outcomes for Nepalese people around the globe.
18. We recognize the growing need for a scientific journal dedicated to the health of global Nepali communities. We have committed to creating a compendium of the scientific sessions of the 5th Global Nepali Health Conference as a valuable scientific reference.
19. We recognize the need for a safe working environment for medical practitioners to give their best to save patients` lives and ensure their welfare. The global Nepalese community should condemn any kind of violence against health workers in the strongest words.
20. Universal healthcare cannot be achieved by the health sector alone. We emphasize the importance of collaboration and partnership across related sectors to optimize health outcomes for Nepalese all around the world.
Comment