active· Health

Nepal: promoting climate resilient and migrant inclusive health systems to address the climate–migration–health nexus

Nepal is highly vulnerable to climate change, experiencing frequent disasters triggered by floods, landslides, and storms. These disasters have led to 3.9 million internal displacements between 2008 and 2023, severely impacting public health and migration patterns. Climate migrants face significant health risks, including malnutrition, waterborne diseases, respiratory infections, and mental health disorders. Host communities also experience increased pressure on healthcare systems. With the surge in foreign labour migration of Nepali workers, particularly to Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Malaysia, Nepal has witnessed increase in health conditions and diseases such as heatstroke, hypertension, kidney disease, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases among these labour migrants, many of which can be largely or partly attributed to climate-related exposures in these destination countries. Despite these challenges, Nepal's policy frameworks have yet to integrate climate change, migration, and health considerations, which may lead to fragmented responses. In response, this project aims to contribute to building a migrant-inclusive, gender-sensitive and climate-resilient health system in Nepal that is responsive to the needs of both internally displaced persons and Nepali foreign labour migrants. The project's outcome is that the Government of Nepal mainstreams the migrant-inclusive, gender-sensitive and climate-resilient health system agenda into its national policies, strategies and priorities.