Prez Bhandari calls for expediting vaccination

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has said all citizens should be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible in order to normalise the situation.

At a programme organised by the Nepal Medical Association to honour female doctors at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas on Friday, President Bhandari stressed the need for providing health services to all citizens by implementing the constitutional provision of health service as a fundamental right.

Urging to make medical education cheap and accessible to all, she shared that it was the responsibility of the state to bring health services to the reach of all people.

President Bhandari said, "There are a large number of female doctors, nurses, health workers and sanitation workers serving in the frontline to fight against COVID-19. So there is huge respect to them."

Stating that a large number of Nepali women is still confined to household chores, she added that only a handful of women have reached the parliament and decision making level.

The President opined that choosing the medical and health sector by women was admirable even in this situation.

She expressed the view, "Though the government has improved its policy and programme to put women health in priority. It is not enough. It should be further improved."

The President also thanked the women doctors for their services to the people of remote areas and stressed the need of increasing women participation and role in decision-level as well as their professional capability and skills development.

Similarly, Association Chair Dr Lochan Karki said that women doctors were honoured in recognition of their contributions to the national and international levels.

Former Chairperson of the Association Dr Sudha Sharma shared that women health workers are in the frontline of the campaign to prevent and control COVID-19.

Dr Divya Singh Shah, Dr Rita Thapa, Dr Saraswoti Padhyay, Dr Sudha Sharma, Dr Kushum Thapa, Dr Kiran Thapa, Dr Asha Singh, Dr Sangita Bhandari, Dr Chandra Karki, Dr Sanumaiya Dali, Dr Sudha Agrawal, Dr Tara Manandhar, Dr Radha Shah and Dr Archana Vaidya were honoured on the occasion.