ARJUN NARSHINGH KC, MINISTER OF HEALTHInauguration speech from Mr Arjun Narsingh KC, the Honourable Minister of Health, for tbNET 97 - conference on NGOs and TB Control.

12th February 1997

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Nepal and to this conference on Non Governmental Organisations and TB control.

All over the world, NGOs and governments in developing countries are waking up to the fact that TB is the number one killer of their adult population, and that it inflicts an enormous burden of suffering and disease. Many of them are now realising that urgent steps have to be taken if TB is to be controlled.

It is now two years since His Majesty's Government of Nepal revised the TB control strategy, and adopted a policy of Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course or DOTS. Last year we began to implement this policy, and already we have seen excellent results. Based on this experience we are now expanding DOTS in Nepal, and plan to cover the whole country by the year 2000.

However, we recognise that, on our own, we will be unable to defeat TB. It will take the combined efforts of government health workers, the community, Non Governmental Organisations and the private sector to successfully fight this terrible disease.

That is why I believe this conference is so important. Many of you here are from NGOs from all over the world. You are all involved in TB control, and you bring a wealth of experience. As you share these experiences and discuss issues of mutual concern, you will be learning together. You will be learning about the many different ways NGOs are involved in fighting TB. You will learn about the different problems and constraints you face. You will discuss ways of overcoming these problems, and improving your effectiveness. This can only be of great value to the communities and individuals that you work with and serve.

I am particularly pleased that this conference is taking place in Nepal. The National Tuberculosis programme in Nepal has a long history of co-ordination and co-operation with NGOs involved in TB control. I trust that the lessons we have learnt here will be of value to you, and that you will leave this conference with new ideas, with even greater commitment to TB control, and with an appreciation of the beauty of our country.

With these few words I declare this conference officially open.

Thank you