The Discussion Meeting on Implementation of RDT Strategy for Cholera Surveillance

The Discussion Meeting on Implementation of RDT Strategy for Cholera Surveillance was held on May 21, 2025, at Vivanta Hotel, Lalitpur which was organized by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), Department of Health Services (DoHS) with support from Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Gavi and GTA Foundation. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Chandra Bhal Jha, Director of EDCD and the Chief Guest was Dr. Tanka Prasad Barakoti, Director General of DoHS. The meeting brought together national and international experts, including representatives from JHU, WHO/GTFCC, Gavi, and EDCD, to review Nepal’s progress in cholera surveillance and explore the integration of rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) strategies. The Sessions covered global and national cholera trends, diagnostic innovations, project findings, and RDT-based cholera surveillance adopted by Nepal. Moreover, the findings from RISE (RDT Implementation Strategy and Evaluation) were disseminated in the meeting by JHU and GTA teams. A key highlight of the meeting was the panel discussion on the feasibility of implementing the RDT-based cholera surveillance strategy which focused on practical challenges, opportunities, and recommendations for nationwide implementation.