Nepal TB Caucus Foundation

With a view to raise the political profile of TB and to build support for efforts to tackle the disease in Nepal and the wider region, a group of Legislature Parliament founded a new Nepal TB Caucus under the leadership of Honorable Sher Bahadur Tamang who represented Nepal in the Global TB Caucus by participating in the Global TB Summit 2015 in Cape Town in November 2015. The event was organized as a part of celebrating World TB Day 2016 in Nepal.

Other members in Nepal TB Caucus were – Hon. Aendra Sundar Nembang, Hon. Shatrudhan Mahato, Hon. Rita Shahi, Hon. Yogendra Ghising, Hon. Kamala Kumari Ghimire and Hon. Dr. Subodh Kumar Pokharel. Former member of Constituent Assembly Mrs. Usha Kala Rai and Secretary of Parliament Secretariat Mr. Mukund Sharma were also present during the foundation program. At the launch event, the members of the group committed to working together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals' (SDGs) target of ending the disease by 2030 and supporting the WHO's End TB Strategy. The group will work with all relevant stakeholders in the fight against TB, including civil society, the private sector and government agencies.

In his opening remarks at the launch, Hon. Sher Bahadur Tamang highlighted the TB program in Nepal as one of the most successful programs of the State. However, he also drew attention to the high TB rate in Nepal, with over 5,000 people dying from the disease every year, and explained the important role of political commitment if Nepal is to eliminate the disease. He also highlighted his membership of the Global TB Caucus and the important role that parliamentarians can play by working together across national boundaries. Expressing his views on the occasion, Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat Mr. Mukunda Sharma said that the new Nepal TB Caucus could be effective in creating and influencing policies and strategies related to TB control program in Nepal.

Representing Nepal Tuberculosis Centre (NTC) at the event, Senior Chest Physician Dr. Mohan Kumar Prasain put forward three major issues that are hindering national responses against tuberculosis: failure to bring all TB patients into the national registration system, easy availability of TB drugs in private clinics and medical halls and the shortage of qualified and trained physicians and human resources in TB services. He further mentioned that the situation could be improved with the right policies.

Head of TB Program of WHO-Nepal Dr. Keshav Kumar Yogi emphasized the importance of combined efforts of state and all stakeholders to combat TB and achieve SDG on TB and End TB Strategy within the stipulated time. Similarly, President of Nepal Anti-TB Association (NATA) Mr. Devendra Bahadur Pradhan shared the difficulties even in getting the sanctioned fund for TB control initiatives of NATA. With the formation of Nepal TB Caucus, such hurdles and hindrances in the fight against tuberculosis will be mitigated and the progress of TB control program will gain greater momentum.

Welcoming honorable members and distinguish guests in the occasion, Mr. Basanta Kumar Parajuli, Executive Director of Volunteers for Development Nepal (VFDN) highlighted that TB claims more lives every year than any seasonal flu in Nepal, however, TB consistently failed to secure the proper attention. To achieve the target of the SDGs on TB and the WHO's End TB Strategy countries like Nepal, with geographical difficulties and high burden of poverty and ignorance, needed state contributions to be increased and quality services related to TB to be made easily accessible for all. He further emphasized the involvement of family members, community people and young students and teachers in eliminating the disease. Mr. Parajuli further extended his thanks to Hon. Sher Bahadur Tamang, Nepal TB and Global TB Caucuses for providing opportunity to VFDN to facilitate and coordinate caucus activities in Nepal as the launch was supported and coordinated by Volunteers for Development Nepal (VFDN), a non-governmental organization working on TB in Nepal.

Some other experts and physicians related to TB control program also put forward their views in the occasion. The program was anchored by Ms. Neha Sharma, woman journalist working with Metro FM, Kathmandu.

Press Release: Foundation of Nepal TB Caucus to Fight against Tuberculosis in Nepal

On the eve of World TB Day 2016, a new Nepal TB Caucus has been founded under the leading of Honorable Sher Bahadur Tamang MP. The group works to raise the political profile of TB in Nepal and to build support for efforts to tackle the disease in Nepal and the wider region.

The launch of the group was supported by Volunteers for Development Nepal (VFDN), a non-governmental organization working on TB in Nepal.
At the launch event, the members of the group committed to working together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals' (SDGs) target of ending the disease by 2030 and supporting the WHO's End TB Strategy. The group will work with all relevant stakeholders in the fight against TB, including civil society, the private sector and government agencies.

In his opening remarks at the launch, Hon. Sher Bahadur Tamang highlighted the TB program in Nepal as one of the most successful programs of the state. However, he also drew attention to the high TB rate in Nepal, with over 5,000 people dying from the disease every year, and explained the important role of political commitment if Nepal is to eliminate the disease. He also highlighted his membership of the Global TB Caucus and the important role that parliamentarians can play by working together across national boundaries. Expressing his views on the occasion, Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat Mr. Mukunda Sharma said that the new Nepal TB Caucus could be effective in creating and influencing policies and strategies related to TB control program in Nepal.

Representing Nepal Tuberculosis Centre (NTC) at the event, Senior Chest Physician Dr. Mohan Kumar Prasain put forward three major issues that are hindering national responses against tuberculosis: failure to bring all TB patients into the national registration system, easy availability of TB drugs in private clinics and medical halls and the shortage of qualified and trained physicians and human resources in TB services. He further mentioned that the situation could be improved with the right policies.

Welcoming honorable members and distinguish guests in the occasion, Mr. Basanta Kumar Parajuli, Executive Director of Volunteers for Development Nepal (VFDN) highlighted that TB claims more lives every year than any seasonal flu in Nepal, however, TB consistently failed to secure the proper attention. To achieve the target of the SDGs on TB and the WHO's End TB Strategy countries like Nepal, with geographical difficulties and high burden of poverty and ignorance, needed state contributions to be increased and quality services related to TB to be made easily accessible for all. He further emphasized the involvement of family members, community people and young students and teachers in eliminating the disease. Mr. Parajuli further extended his thanks to Hon. Sher Bahadur Tamang, Nepal TB and Global TB Caucuses for providing opportunity to VFDN to facilitate and coordinate caucus activities in Nepal.

Head of TB Program of WHO-Nepal Dr. Keshav Kumar Yogi emphasized the importance of combined efforts of state and all stakeholders to combat TB and achieve SDG on TB and End TB Strategy within the stipulated time. Similarly, President of Nepal Anti-TB Association (NATA) Mr. Devendra Bahadur Pradhan shared the difficulties even in getting the sanctioned fund for TB control initiatives of NATA. With the formation of Nepal TB Caucus, such hurdles and hindrances in the fight against tuberculosis will be mitigated and the progress of TB control program will gain greater momentum. Other experts and physicians related to TB control program also put forward their views in the occasion.

Other members in Nepal TB Caucus are – Hon. Aendra Sundar Nembang, Hon. Shatrudhan Mahato, Hon. Rita Shahi, Hon. Yogendra Ghising, Hon. Kamala Kumari Ghimire and Hon. Dr. Subodh Kumar Pokharel. Former member of Constituent Assembly Mrs. Usha Kala Rai and Secretary of Parliament Secretariat Mr. Mukund Sharma were also present during the foundation program.