Famine and malnutrition in the Gaza Strip have reached an unprecedented and catastrophic level, according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Ross Smith, Emergency Director at WFP, stated, “We have not seen such a heartbreaking situation in this century. The current famine in Gaza echoes the devastating famines of Ethiopia and Biafra in the past.” The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has reported that the majority of Gaza has surpassed the “critical” threshold for food insecurity, pushing the region into emergency levels of famine. Immediate Action Required to Prevent Humanitarian Collapse UN officials have issued stark warnings…
Swasthya Diary
A strong demand has been made to expand Nepal’s current school midday meal program to include children of all grades, ensuring that every student receives a nutritious meal during school hours. During the National Consultation Workshop on the Midday Meal Program held in Kathmandu on Tuesday, health experts, representatives from concerned organizations, and government officials collectively emphasized the urgent need to provide balanced and nutritious meals to all students, not just those up to Grade 5. Currently, the government provides a midday meal allowance of NPR 20 per student per day (increased from NPR 15 in the current fiscal year)…
A 70-year-old man from Philinegad, Aalital Rural Municipality-1 in Dadeldhura district has died after consuming a poisonous mushroom, according to local authorities. The deceased, identified as Deb Bohora, reportedly consumed the mushroom on the evening of July 22 (7th of Shrawan) from his own farmland. Shortly after ingestion, he began showing signs of severe illness and was rushed to Dadeldhura Hospital for emergency treatment. Despite medical efforts, Bohora passed away at 4:50 PM on July 28 (13th of Shrawan) while undergoing treatment, according to a statement from the District Police Office, Dadeldhura. Mushroom Believed to Be of a Toxic Variety…
Nepal’s Health Minister, Pradeep Poudel, has expressed serious concerns over the difficulty in deploying essential health personnel to regions outside the Kathmandu Valley. Speaking at a capacity-building event for the Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC) held in Lalitpur on Tuesday, Minister Poudel highlighted the reluctance of health workers to relocate after being transferred, calling it a growing issue for the public health sector. “Some employees don’t even collect their transfer letters,” said Minister Poudel. “This resistance has made it impossible to send necessary manpower to federal, provincial, and local health facilities in remote areas.” Shortage of Health Workers Outside the…
A rare medical case from Lithuania has shocked doctors around the world: a 29-year-old woman has been diagnosed with a semen allergy, which is preventing her from becoming pregnant. The woman had been trying to conceive naturally for a long time without success. After multiple failed attempts, she opted for in vitro fertilization (IVF) twice—but both attempts failed. Initial medical evaluations revealed no clear cause, prompting specialists to conduct an allergy test. The result was surprising: she was allergic to a specific protein found in semen. What Is Human Seminal Plasma Allergy? The condition is medically known as Human Seminal…
Kathmandu – Following a call by the Nepal Medical Association (NMA), all hospitals and health institutions across Nepal have suspended all services except for emergency care starting today (Monday). The move comes in response to growing dissatisfaction among doctors after the Consumer Court began ordering compensation payments against hospitals and doctors over allegations of negligence during treatment. Recently, the court ruled: These rulings triggered widespread outrage among medical professionals, who argue the judgments are unfair and demoralizing. Due to the service boycott, many patients are facing severe difficulties accessing medical care. The protest gained momentum after the Patan High Court…
Kavrepalanchok – Kavrepalanchok has officially been declared a Fully Immunized District after all 13 local levels in the district completed the required immunization process. It became the third district in Bagmati Province to achieve full immunization status. The declaration was made at a program in Dhulikhel on Sunday, where District Coordination Committee Chief Deepak Gautam, Secretary of the Provincial Ministry of Health Dr. Sumitra Gautam, and Director of the Provincial Health Directorate Dr. Narendra Kumar Jha handed over the certificate to the District Public Health Office. According to reports, between 16 to 23 months of age, 4,241 children, and under…
Dhangadhi – The Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City has been officially declared a Fully Immunized Municipality with Sustainability. The announcement was made during a program held on Sunday, following the results of a household survey conducted between Falgun 2081 and Baisakh 2082. According to Yogesh Awasthi, Chief of the Health Section, the declaration is based on successful vaccination coverage within the municipality. The survey found that among 8,210 children aged 16 to 59 months, only 5 children were unvaccinated, and 59 had dropped out of the routine immunization schedule. However, all these children have now received the complete set of vaccines required…
Achham – Starting from Bhadra 1 (August 17, 2025), the Sudurpaschim Provincial Government will take over the operations of Bayalpata Hospital in Achham district. An agreement has been signed between Nyaya Health Nepal, the current managing organization, and the provincial government. The handover agreement was signed on Sunday between Kunda Dixit, Chairperson of Nyaya Health Nepal, and Dr. Hemraj Regmi, Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development. Social Development Minister Meghraj Khadka was also present at the event. The provincial government had announced its intention to bring Bayalpata Hospital under its jurisdiction in point 67 of its policy and program…
Kathmandu – Protesting a recent decision by the Consumer Court related to medical practice, the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) has suspended all non-emergency medical services across hospitals and health institutions nationwide starting today. Earlier, the NMA had called on all doctors and healthcare workers to wear black armbands from Asar 17 (June 30) to express dissent. With no resolution in sight, the protest has now escalated into a nationwide service shutdown, sparing only emergency departments. The strike has caused significant hardship for patients, especially those who traveled long distances for treatment. At Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj, the impact…