Former Health Minister Paudel Urges Continuation of Program to Prevent Premature Deaths of Mothers

April 17, Kathmandu: Former Health and Population Minister Pradeep Paudel has called on the government to further refine and sustain the program he initiated to prevent premature deaths among mothers and women caused by cervical cancer. Through a social media post, he recalled launching a free cancer screening program aimed at ending the high mortality rates faced by many mothers and women due to delayed testing. On the occasion of Matatirtha Aunsi, he extended his best wishes to mothers and urged the government to continue this initiative.
“Considering that women’s health often remains a secondary priority in society, during my tenure at the Ministry of Health and Population, we established a free cancer screening service to end the tragedy of mothers and women dying from lack of timely testing. On this important day, I express full confidence in the current government to further enhance and sustain this program,” he stated.
While serving as minister, Paudel spearheaded campaigns including the HPV vaccination drive to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer—the leading cause of female fatalities—and the national cervical cancer screening program for women. Both initiatives aimed to curb the rising female mortality due to cancer. Marking the occasion of Matatirtha Aunsi, Paudel reminded of these efforts and recommended that the present government prioritize them. “We remain committed to fulfilling the responsibility of building healthy families and a prosperous nation through healthy women,” the former minister affirmed in his message.