Second Expanded Joint Coordinating Committee Meeting endorses Key Achievements and Pilot Implementation Plan

The Ministry of Health and Food Safety (MoHFS) and JICA hosted the second Expanded Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) meeting for “The Project for Improving Continuum of Care for Mothers and Children through the utilization of Maternal and Child Health handbook (The Nepal MCHHB Project)” on the 19^th of June 2026 at the Department of Health Services (DoHS) premises in Teku, Kathmandu.

The meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr Shree Krishna Shrestha, Additional Health Secretary of MoHFS, and co-chaired by Dr Anuj Bhattachan, Director General of DoHS. It opened with welcome remarks by Mr Bishal Subedi of the Health Coordination Division, followed by remarks from Ms Yuko Kuno, Senior Representative of JICA Nepal Office.

Dr Madan Kumar Upadhyaya, Project Director and the Director of the Family Welfare Division, presented updates on the progress of key activities and the pilot implementation plan. He shared that the MCH Handbook prototype was endorsed by the MoHFS for the pilot implementation. Representatives of Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces also shared their progress and strong commitment towards the pilot implementation. Presentations were delivered by Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula, Secretary of Gandaki MoH, Ms Anju Poudel of Matrishishu Miteri Hospital, and Mr Roshan Lal Chaudhary, Director of the Health Directorate of Lumbini. In addition, Mr Chaudhary shared the key learnings from the country-focused training of Japan and in Indonesia, conducted in February 2026.

The meeting concluded with the endorsement of the major achievements to date, as well as the pilot implementation plan and timeline for upcoming activities. With this endorsement, the project is now moving forward with pilot activities of the Nepal MCH Handbook initiative in Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces – an important step towards improving the health and well-being of mothers and children across Nepal.