The Seoul Times

Today a Record of Discussion (ROD) signing ceremony between the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) Nepal took place for the project “Improving Maternal and Child Health Care in Mugu” of west Nepal. HaengLan Jo the Resident Representative of KOICA and Dr. Padam B. Chand, Chief Public Health Administrator of the MoHP signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.

KOICA will spend US$ 5 million for this project for 60 months. Through this project KOICA aims to build the capacity of caregivers, parents, families and communities to make informed decisions to improve maternal and child health and hygiene at the Project site. KOICA also plans to strengthen the health system’s capacity to provide quality and equitable maternal health services at the Project site and The project’s main goal is to support the national initiative of the of the Ministry of Health and Population to improve maternal and neonatal health and survival, especially of the poor and excluded

In this project, KOICA shall provide technical support to develop the master plan of the District Health Office, KOICA shall take the necessary measures to remodel and renovate the current district hospital buildings, KOICA shall provide the equipment and materials necessary for the successful implementation of the Project and KOICA and the Ministry of Health and population shall jointly roll out the pilot form of Community Health Workers Scheme in Mugu to ensure the quality health service in community level,

During the signing ceremony KOICA Representative Ms. HaengLan Jo stated that improving the quality of health care services in Mugu is a special and very challenging attempt of KOICA to achieve the goal of quality health care for all.

Similarly during the ceremony Chief Public Health Administrator, Dr. Chand appreciated KOICA’s courage to work in Mugu.

Health is one of KOICA’s main sectors in Nepal wherein it has been supporting with different technical and developmental assistance since 1996. At present 22 KOICA volunteers from health background including 2 medical doctors and 3 surgeons are working within and outside the valley. In addition, currently KOICA has supported in implementing Health Services Improvement in Tikapur (HIT) and National Health Insurance Support Project (NHISP), in close cooperation with MOHP as well as other external development partners.

Anil Giri serves as Kathmandu Correspondent for the Seoul Times. As a journalist he has worked for such news media as the Annapurna Post, BBC, and the Himalayan Times for years. He finished his both undergrad Economics degree and his MA degree in English Literature at Tribhuvan Univ., Kathmandu. He also holds a diploma in Development Journalism from the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication-IIMC, New Delhi, India.