Ncell collaborates with Health Ministry and UNICEF for National Measles Rubella Campaign 2020

Ncell Private Limited in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) and UNICEF is supporting the government for the National Measles Rubella (MR) Campaign 2020. Under this much anticipated campaign, the government aims to immunize over 30 lakhs children across the country between the age of 9 months to 5 years.

Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services is implementing the MR mass immunisation campaign in two phases. The first phase started today (February 13) in Province 1, 2 and 5 which will remain in place until 13 March, 2020. Likewise, the second phase of the campaign will start from 14 March in Provinces Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali and Sudur Paschim and will remain in place till April 12, 2020.

“We are glad that Ncell has supported the government for this campaign targeted to immunise over 3 million children to achieve 100 percent success. We are grateful for the support and expect similar support in future as well,” said Dr. Jhalak Sharma Gautam, chief of Child Health and Immunisation Service Section at the Family Welfare Division.

Andy Chong, CEO of Ncell said, “Ncell is privileged to collaborate with Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) on National Measles Rubella (MR) Campaign to spread the message on importance of immunization, which is a national health priority. Healthcare is a vital aspect of our Corporate Social Responsibility activities. Ncell has a greater responsibility as a corporate leader and we are honoured to be given this opportunity to be driving such an initiative.”Government’s statistics indicates that cases of MR outbreak are increasing at an alarming rate post 2015. Statistics by Nepal Demographic Health Survey state that percentage of children aged 12- 23 months old, who received all basic vaccines fell from 87 percent in 2011 to 78 percent in 2016.

This collaboration of Ncell with the government for this noble cause will contribute towards supporting the government to reduce number of death and disability in children and meet World Health Organization (WHO) goal of eliminating MR by 2023. Instances have shown that Measles can cause severe complications including blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhoea, ear infection and pneumonia while Rubella causes irreversible birth defects.

Ncell as a part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MoHP and National Health Education and Communication Centre (NHEICC) in 2019 as an exclusive awareness partner for supporting the government to raise health awareness across the country. Previously in October 2019, Ncell had supported the government in broadcasting Dengue awareness messaging across the country via multiple channels of communication.