Nepal

Nepal’s economy is largely dependent on agriculture which represents 22% of GDP, according to the World Bank. Around 30% of the country’s land area is used for farming. Over the last 25 years the use of chemical products has become commonplace in rural agricultural communities and is encouraged for economic reasons by traders, the Nepalese authorities and farming cooperatives.

Recently, this trend has accelerated rapidly at a rate of 10-20% per year. This abusive use of pesticides is accompanied by a glaring lack of information about their harmful effects on the health of both farmers and consumers.

Between 27 and 29 September 2024, heavy rainfall in Nepal led to widespread flooding and landslides.

The storms caused serious damage and disruption on a national scale, displacing 1,360 families who lived in informal settlements in the Kathmandu Valley. Many waste collectors were affected. The disaster resulted in 236 deaths and affected 16,243 households across the country.

Médecins du Monde is working with farmers in three districts (Kavre, Ramechhap and Sindhupalchok) in partnership with NGOs and other local organisations.

The work seeks to prevent occupational risks posed by the use of chemical pesticides, improve working conditions for farmers and give them better access to health services, including consultations on health and safety at work.

In 2024, Médecins du Monde provided technical support to the health and safety at work services in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj and delivered training on medical waste management for healthcare staff.

Awareness-raising sessions on the risks associated with waste dismantling were organised for workers, focusing on preventing injuries, musculoskeletal conditions and animal bites, the importance of tetanus vaccinations, how to use personal protective equipment correctly and personal hygiene.

Médecins du Monde has also trained healthcare professionals to provide consultations on health and safety at work, a relatively new concept in Nepal.

Médecins du Monde responded rapidly to the disaster, providing healthcare services with essential medical supplies, distributing emergency relief supplies to affected families (including mosquito nets, blankets and hygiene kits) and raising awareness about health and disease prevention, especially in relation to dengue fever and cholera, with the aim of reducing health risks following flooding.