In Humla, the national immunization and nutrition campaign has been affected due to the failure to deliver Vitamin A capsules and deworming medicine on time. According to Surbir Shahi, Health Coordinator of Chankheli Rural Municipality, delays in the supply of medicines have disrupted service delivery in this important campaign targeting children under five years of age.
During the campaign being conducted across the district, the unavailability of necessary Vitamin A capsules and deworming medicine on time has affected the basic nutrition and health services that children are entitled to receive. The problem has become even more severe, particularly in remote settlements where medicines have not reached. Coordinator Shahi stated that this has increased the risk of long-term negative impacts on children’s health. Although difficult geography, transportation challenges, and management weaknesses have been cited as reasons, Shivraj Sharma, Chief of the District Coordination Committee, said that the repeated occurrence of such issues reflects a lack of policy-level improvement. According to him, the arrival of medicines only at the last moment, even after campaign dates are fixed, indicates serious shortcomings in preparation and coordination.
According to Dr. Umakant Tiwari, Chief of the Health Service Office, Humla, the problem arose due to delays in medicine supply from the Karnali Province Supply Center.
Under the National Nutrition Program, the campaign scheduled to be conducted simultaneously across the country on Baisakh 6 and 7 requires that medicines reach the respective health institutions at least one week in advance. However, this year, medicines were made available only on April 17, he stated. “Due to the delay in supply, it was difficult to deliver medicines to all health institutions on time, which affected the campaign,” said Dr. Tiwari.
According to him, the campaign will be relaunched in the district only after the supply and transportation of medicines to all health institutions are completed.
Local residents have demanded immediate improvements, stating that the ineffective implementation of such essential programs directly impacts the basic health and nutrition of children. Stakeholders have also pointed out that the failure to ensure timely delivery of medicines in such a sensitive program, directly linked to the lives of children under five, signals serious weaknesses in the public health supply system.