Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Initiative in Nepal

Support/Partner: Government of Nepal (including Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), Department of Livestock Services, and Food Safety and Quality Control Division)

Status: Phase Out

Objective: To strengthen Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) practices across health facilities and laboratories in Nepal, contributing to the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within healthcare settings.

Outcome: The initiative enhanced IPC capacity in health facilities and laboratories by:
  • Training healthcare workers on standard IPC protocols, including hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, waste management, and personal protective equipment (PPE) use.
  • Developing and disseminating IPC guidelines tailored to Nepal’s healthcare context.
  • Supporting the establishment of IPC committees at selected hospitals to oversee infection prevention activities.
  • Facilitating monitoring and supervision visits to assess IPC implementation and provide on-the-spot coaching.
  • Integrating IPC components into hospital-based Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) programs, ensuring a comprehensive approach to infection control and rational antibiotic use.

These efforts strengthened infection prevention systems at national and facility levels, reducing infection risks and improving patient safety across Nepal’s healthcare network.