Nepal is among the few nations on their way to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Association of International NGOs (AIN) deserves note for its contribution to the gains.


This was noted at the launching of A Mapping of INGOs Contributing to Health Sector in Nepal’s Effort towards reaching MDGs and Nepal Health Sector Program (NHSP) II, by Dr. Parshuram Shrestha, Chief of Child Health Division, at a program at Yala Maya Kendra, Lalitpur.


The INGOs under AIN working in the health sector have made a vast contribution, especially in terms of MDGs 1 (that is, eradicate extreme poverty and hunger), 4 (reduce child mortality), 5 (improve maternal health) and 6 (combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases).


“Nepal is among the few nations on the way to reaching MDGs but still problems exist in various fields among which many are surmountable,” said Dr. Ashish K.C., coordinator of the AIN Health Working Group.


AIN is currently working in all the 75 districts of Nepal with more focus on the mid-western and far-western regions. Its contribution in health sector is approximately 62 million USD which has increased by three folds in the last 3 years.


Currently there are 96 member INGOs working under the AIN.  Some 40 AIN Health Working Group members have major health program focus, program components, implementation approach, activity details, partners, geographical coverage, and budget for Health Sector for the year 2011 etc, according to the report.


According to Dr. Ashish K.C., the mapping of INGO’s is needed to document and disseminate efforts of AIN members, who have been making contributions in improving the health and survival in line with Nepal Health Sector Program II (2010-15). Meanwhile, the mapping also helps strengthen the relationship with government, civil society and external development partners for catalytic investment in health and realize the contributions made by INGO’s  in achieving MDGS and NHSP II.