MoHP and WHO conduct orientation for National Expert Review Committees for Vaccine-preventable Diseases

The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) and WHO Country Office for Nepal with technical support from WHO Southeast Asia Regional Office (SEARO) successfully conducted a two-day orientation session for the newly reconstituted National Vaccine-Preventable Disease (VPD) Expert Review Committees for polio and measles–rubella (MR).

Formed by the MoHP in May 2025, the four National VPD expert committees comprised of 26 national experts from diverse disciplines, including pediatrics, public health, epidemiology, laboratory sciences and medicine.

Experts from the newly reconstituted National Vaccine-Preventable Disease (VPD) Expert Review Committees for polio (top photo) and measles–rubella (MR) present at the programme. Photo credit: WHO Nepal/S.G.Amatya

Given the participants’ diverse professional backgrounds, the training provided (first of its kind in the region) a critical platform to establish a shared understanding of committee role in disease elimination, essential for advancing and sustaining Nepal’s VPD elimination goals.

The committees will now play a central role in advising the National Immunization Program (NIP), reviewing national and subnational immunization and VPD programs related to polio and MR elimination and classifying polio and MR cases, monitoring progress and reviewing  national annual polio and MR reports to be submitted to the WHO South-East Asia Regional Verification Commission for Measles Elimination (RVC) and Regional Certification Commission for Poliomyelitis Eradication (RCCPE).

Clockwise: Dr Balwinder Singh Chawla, Team Lead for the Immunization Preventable Diseases Programme at WHO Nepal; Dr Pasang Rai, National Professional Officer and Surveillance Cluster Lead, WHO Nepal; Dr Neemesh Khatiwada, National Officer for the Polio Programme, WHO Nepal; and Dr Soniya Bhagat, National Surveillance Officer for VPD from WHO Nepal presenting at the orientation sessions. Photo credit: WHO Nepal/S.G.Amatya

Facilitators from the WHO SEARO and WHO Nepal guided participants through a series of technical sessions. Dr Vinod Kumar Bura, Coordinator for Immunization and Vaccine Development; Dr Sudhir Khanal, Regional Advisor for Accelerated Disease Control; Dr Sudhir Joshi, Technical Officer for Polio Endgame; Ms Uttara Aggarwal, Technical Officer; and Dr Lucky Sangal, Scientist (Virologist) from WHO SEARO facilitated the sessions along with Dr Urmila Lama, Medical Officer, Family Welfare Division,  and Dr Balwinder Singh Chawla, Team lead IPD, WHO Nepal, Dr Pasang Rai, National Professional Officer and Surveillance Cluster Lead, WHO Nepal; Dr Neemesh Khatiwada, National Officer for the Polio Programme, WHO Nepal;  Dr Soniya Bhagat, National Surveillance Officer for VPD, WHO Nepal and Dr Nirmal Kumar Jha, Polio Transition Support Officer, WHO Nepal.

The polio orientation covered global and regional eradication updates, Nepal’s national progress, certification processes and committee terms of reference (ToRs). Additional sessions focused on polio population immunity, surveillance and risk assessment, virus containment and transition planning. Participants also discussed current challenges on sustaining polio and VPD surveillance including key parameters and critical area in country report of National Certification Committee for Polio Eradication (NCCPE) to RCCPE.

Experts providing their feedback during the programme. Photo credit: WHO Nepal/S.G.Amatya

The measles–rubella session provided an overview of global and national MR elimination efforts, verification processes, TORs of the National Verification Committee for Measles and Rubella Elimination (NVCMRE) and Expert Review Committee (ERC–MR), and reporting procedures. Technical discussions focused on MR and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) surveillance, molecular epidemiology and population immunity. Facilitators highlighted Nepal’s achievements in MR elimination and the importance of sustaining VPD surveillance quality and MR outbreak preparedness and response. The session concluded with discussion on new MR test algorithm for classification of measles and rubella cases focusing on improved coordination and strategic planning.

Clockwise: Dr Urmila Lama, Medical Officer from Family Welfare Division, Nepal; Dr Balwinder Singh Chawla, Team Lead for the Immunization Preventable Diseases Programme at WHO Nepal; and Dr Rameshwor Man Shrestha, Chair Expert Review Committee- Measles Rubella, Prof Dr Ganesh Kumar Rai, Chair National Verification Committee for Measles Rubella Elimination (NVCMRE). Expert providing their remarks at the programme. Photo credit: WHO Nepal/S.G.Amatya

During the programme, Dr Balwinder Singh Chawla, Team Lead for the Immunization Preventable Diseases Programme at WHO Nepal, emphasized that the orientation represented a vital step in strengthening Nepal’s technical and institutional mechanisms for VPD elimination. “Nepal has made significant progress: achieving polio-free status in 2014, rubella elimination in 2025 and targeting measles elimination by 2026,” he said. “The expert committees will ensure continued vigilance, high-quality surveillance and evidence-based guidance to sustain and advance these achievements.”

The orientation concluded with a shared commitment from MoHP, WHO and the expert committees to uphold Nepal’s momentum toward a future free from VPD, ensuring that every child is protected from vaccine preventable diseases.