Nepal has successfully maintained its elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus, a milestone achieved in 2005. This has been confirmed by experts from WHO and UNICEF following a recent evaluation.
Dr. Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunization Section at the Family Welfare Division, highlighted that this achievement reflects the success of Nepal’s immunization program. Tetanus, a severe nervous system disorder, remains a significant health risk, particularly due to unclean delivery practices.
A post-validation assessment showed that Nepal continues to have less than one case per 1,000 live births. Recommendations for sustaining this status include introducing a booster dose of the tetanus vaccine in the second year of life, integrating neonatal tetanus death reporting, and strengthening community awareness on antenatal care and clean delivery practices.