WHO and UNICEF initiated a coordination working group on emergency health and nutrition in April this year. The goal of the EHNWG is to reduce excess mortality and morbidity in emergencies in Nepal. The group was formulated in the wake of the democratic movement and the change in the political situation in the country. It was also important to promote such a wide stakeholder joint group as there was no functioning coordination mechanism in place to address health & nutrition emergencies.

The role of EHNWG is to advocate among key decision makers in the government offices, UN, International organizations, non-government organizations and donor community for enhanced health sector and nutritional emergency preparedness through identification of best public health practice and appropriate priority actions / strategies in the context of Nepal.

The group will work closely with the Ministry of Health & population and the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is the focal point for disaster management in Nepal. The group also aims to support the Disaster Health Working Group once it becomes revitalized and active in the disaster management field in the country.

The mandate of the group will contribute to establishing an effective and timely response to any health or nutritional emergency in the country by proper coordination, operational planning and monitoring.

The expected outcomes are:

One of the first tasks EHNWG has undertaken is to compile a list of the stakeholders working in these areas, as to their programmes and the geographical area they cover (please see end of the newsletter for the up-to-date matrix).

This would enable partners to know about each others programmes and better coordinate activities. Wide participation and lively discussions among participating organisations during the first three meetings bear witness to the necessity of this coordination group.