Kathmandu, Nepal – The Ministry of Health and Food Safety (MoHFS), together with the European Commission and WHO, convened a kick-off meeting to officially launch the Building Resilient Health Systems for Inclusive Disaster Governance through preparedness and response readiness Enhancement (BRIDGE) project.
/countries/nepal/img_9512.jpg?sfvrsn=f36d86c6_5 "WHO Representative to Nepal a.i., Dr Allison Gocotano, presents the BRIDGE project at the Ministry of Health and Food Safety, Nepal")
WHO Representative to Nepal a.i., Dr Allison Gocotano, presents on the BRIDGE project at the Ministry of Health and Food Safety, Nepal. Photo credit: WHO Nepal/Sujan Govinda Amatya
Bringing together representatives from MoHFS, People In Need (PIN), UNDP and WHO, the meeting marked the start of the project’s implementation and reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthening Nepal’s disaster preparedness and emergency response capacities.
Building on lessons learned from the previous European Commission-supported projects, BRIDGE aims to strengthen resilient and inclusive health sector disaster governance by enhancing preparedness and response systems at the federal, provincial and local levels.
/countries/nepal/img_9457.jpg?sfvrsn=afae958_5 "Partners present at the kick-off meeting of the BRIDGE project at the Ministry of Health and Food Safety, Nepal")
Partners present at the programme. Photo credit: WHO Nepal/Sujan Govinda Amatya
The project focuses on institutionalizing interoperable coordination mechanisms; validating and testing emergency preparedness and response plans; upgrading hub and satellite hospitals through enhanced mass casualty management capacities; strengthening emergency medical logistics and Emergency Medical Team (EMT) deployment capabilities; and reinforcing inclusive, locally led health sector preparedness and response plans. It also seeks to further strengthen coordination between the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) network and the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) networks, improve community and pre-hospital emergency care and continuity of essential health services. The project will run until May 2028 across Karnali, Lumbini and Sudurpaschim provinces.