WHO Thanks Nepal for Contribution to South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund

New Delhi: The World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region has expressed its gratitude to the Ministry of Health and Population, Government of Nepal, for its contribution of NPR 1,500,000 (approximately USD 11,000) to the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF).

This fund is a unique mechanism designed to assist Member countries in the region to prepare for and respond to health emergencies.

“WHO thanks Nepal for its contribution to SEARHEF. Nepal has championed the regional health emergency fund at various forums. The country has been demonstrating great leadership in building capabilities and responding to emergencies, with many lessons for the Region and the world to emulate,” said Saima Wazed, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, in a letter to Mr. Pradip Paudel, Minister of Health and Population, Nepal.

Nepal’s contribution reflects its support, ownership, and commitment to SEARHEF, which is transparently managed by WHO for the benefit of the Region’s Member countries.

Established in 2007, following the Indian Ocean tsunami, SEARHEF was designed to fund immediate health sector responses during emergencies—critical for saving lives. Since its inception, SEARHEF has supported 49 emergencies across 10 countries, disbursing over USD 8 million.

In 2016, the scope of SEARHEF was expanded to include emergency preparedness. To date, three countries have used the fund to strengthen their Health Emergency Operations Centres and Rapid Response Teams.

Nepal, a nation prone to natural disasters, has leveraged SEARHEF for its responses to multiple crises, including the Koshi floods in 2008, the devastating earthquake in 2015, and the recent Jajarkot earthquake in 2023.

These funds helped coordinate health responses, provide life-saving services, prevent and respond to outbreaks, and ensure continuity of essential health services through temporary healthcare facilities.

Recognizing SEARHEF’s critical role in the Region’s public health response, at the annual governing body meeting of WHO South-East Asia in October 2024, Member countries agreed to increase the corpus of the fund from USD one million to USD three million.

Nepal becomes the fourth country, after Thailand, India, and Timor-Leste, to contribute to the enhanced SEARHEF corpus.

The Regional Director emphasized, “WHO stands committed to supporting Member countries in building resilient health systems that are well-prepared to respond to public health emergencies of any magnitude.”