UNFPA is working with the Government of Nepal since 1971 to increase availability and access to quality family planning services and address the unmet need for contraceptives among individuals and couples.
The Ministry of Health and Population, on the occasion of the 2nd National Family Planning Day 2015, honoured UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, for its longstanding contribution and promotion of family planning programmes in Nepal.
Together with UNFPA Sunaulo Pariwar Nepal (the national NGO affiliate of MSI), Dr. Kokila Vaidhya, Dr. Saraswoti Padhye, Dr. Jeevan Bhattarai and Ms. Bishnu Shrestha were also felicitated.
UNFPA is working with the Government of Nepal since 1971 to increase availability and access to quality family planning services and address the unmet need for contraceptives among individuals and couples.
Through its Global Programme on UNFPA Supplies, UNFPA has been providing essential reproductive health commodities to help the government and local partners offer women and men contraceptives of their individual choices.
In its appreciation message, the Ministry of Health and Population says the honour is in "recognition of your outstanding contributions to Nepal's development by providing technical and financial support to family planning programmes and in giving it continuity."
"We are deeply honoured and humbled by this recognition," said Ms. Giulia Vallese, UNFPA Representative to Nepal. "Such an honour is motivating UNFPA to be even more committed in ensuring a steady supply of quality contraceptives, strengthening the national health system, advocating for policies supportive of family planning, and gathering data to support our work in Nepal."
Dr. Senendra Raj Uprety, Director of the Department of Health Services, and Dr. Pushpa Chaudhary, Director of the Family Health Division, present in the event also acknowledged UNFPA's contribution in their interventions, referring in particular to the National Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan (2015-2020) and to the agency's support in averting stock-outs of essential, lifesaving commodities.
Appreciation plaques were presented to the honoured agencies and individuals by Dr. Yagya Bahadur Karki, Member of National Planning Commission; Shanta Bahadur Shrestha, Secretary of Ministry of Health and Population; and Dr. Uprety as part of an event organized by the Family Health Division in Kathmandu on 18 September 2015