Nepal’s Child and Maternal Health Programmes Hit by Drop in Foreign Aid: Health Minister

Health and Population Minister Pradip Paudel has expressed concern that declining foreign development aid is jeopardizing critical health services in Nepal, particularly those aimed at mothers, children, and newborns. Speaking during a roundtable discussion ahead of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, Minister Paudel urged international donors, including UN agencies, to ensure continued support to safeguard essential programmes.

According to the minister, the aid cutbacks have created serious challenges for the delivery of key services. With Nepal transitioning from a low-income to a developing country, the reduction in assistance threatens to impact public health initiatives that remain heavily reliant on external funding.

Minister Paudel pointed out that services for approximately five million women of reproductive age are at risk, as are nutritional programmes targeting 1.5 million children under the age of five. He also warned that reduced funding for reproductive education and healthcare will affect an estimated 3.5 million adults.

Despite these constraints, he highlighted Nepal’s notable progress in reducing maternal mortality. In 2023, the maternal mortality rate had dropped by 71 percent compared to the year 2000. Minister Paudel reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in health by 2030 but stressed that continued international cooperation is essential to sustain the country’s achievements and meet its targets.