गृहपृष्ठ ∕ Breaking ∕ WHO honours Nepal Eye Care network for excellence Breaking WHO honours Nepal Eye Care network for excellence KathmanduPati August 08, 2026 Kathmandu [Nepal], August 8 – The World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Office has selected Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS) for the 2026 WHO South-East Asia Regional Public Health Champion Award in recognition of its longstanding contribution to reducing avoidable blindness and expanding equitable eye care services across Nepal. According to the WHO, the award will be presented during the 79th session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia in October. This marks the first time NNJS has received the regional honour in the public health category. Thailand’s Dr Nittaya Phanuphak and India’s Dr K. Suresh Kumar have also been named award recipients. Founded nearly five decades ago NNJS operates 28 eye hospitals and 226 eye care centres through 44 district branches providing services to patients from Nepal and abroad. The organization says it has delivered eye care to more than 50.2 million people and performed over 5.65 million eye surgeries. WHO noted that Nepal’s blindness prevalence fell from 0.84% in 1981 to 0.28% in 2020/21, reflecting sustained progress in eye health. NNJS said it remains focused on expanding free and subsidized treatment particularly for underserved communities. The organization also reported earning more than Rs 1.5 billion in foreign currency from international patients in the last fiscal year highlighting Nepal’s growing potential as a destination for health tourism. Write your comments RELATED NEWS US intelligence warns Russia could test NATO soon Trump faces pressure to compromise on Hormuz deal Nepal Central bank updates foreign exchange rates Saturday Thai teen kills eight in school shooting rampage Nepal intensifies Asian games preparations with overseas camps India seeks Everest ‘Green Boots’ recovery after decades Top Headlines Monsoon is predictable and Nepal’s disaster response should be too1 Before the Ballots: How Oli Lost the Political Narrative2 Balen’s Silence Has Invited Curiosity, Confusion, and Concerns3 Nepal “a Buffer State”: Rethinking foreign policy in relative terms4 Promotion Linked to Future Military Leadership: Major General Magar Could Become Army Chief5 Nepal’s Political Renaissance: The rise of the RSP, the re-ordering of the old political order and the political path forward6 Jagdamba Group Chairman Shankar Agrawal Arrested7 ‘Promotion of Ayurveda, Yoga and meditation along with modern medicine positive’8 TRENDING Once on the Margins, Women Diplomats Are Now Making Their Mark in Nepal’s Foreign Service Sector Pathao, Tootle resume ride sharing services after authorities relax lockdown What Makes Prithivi Narayan Shah a Philosopher and a Truly Democratic King? The Role of the Nepalese Army in Strategic Road Projects A phone call that paved the way for RAW Chief’s visit to Nepal What role has the Nepal Army been playing in controlling the coronavirus? Impact of Social Media on Nepalese Society Public Relations for a Soldier
