GTA

Between 2015 and 2023, a series of Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaigns were conducted across various regions of Nepal, supported by development partners and coordinated through national health authorities. The first campaigns were launched in Dhading and Nuwakot in 2015, followed by another in Banke in 2017. In subsequent years, OCV efforts extended to Saptari (2022–2023), with log maintenance support provided during the Kathmandu campaign in 2023.

These immunization initiatives were complemented by a range of studies and programmatic interventions aimed at strengthening vaccination outcomes. Key among them were a vaccine waste study led by the World Health Organization (WHO), a vaccine card retention study supported by UNICEF.

GTA has been instrumental in the implementation of OCV campaigns, working in close coordination with the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. Through these efforts, GTA supported vaccination drives in the cholera-prone districts of Dhading, Nuwakot, Banke, and Saptari reaching over 200,000 individuals. Beyond vaccine administration, GTA actively contributed to health worker training, campaign monitoring, coverage surveys, and a stool shedding study to evaluate vaccine efficacy.

In an effort to explore innovative strategies for improved vaccine uptake, GTA also conducted a feasibility study on second-dose self-administration in Saptari. Furthermore, its support included the provision of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits for timely cholera detection and comprehensive capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing outbreak preparedness within the health system.

Together, these multifaceted interventions underscore GTA’s enduring dedication to advancing public health, bolstering community resilience, and strengthening disease prevention across Nepal.