Archives: Team

Dr. Rajendra Kumar BC is a freelance consultant, currently serving as an executive board member of the
Nepal Public Health Foundation (NPHF) since 2016, visiting professor at the Pokhara University, Nepal
since 2013, and also adjunct faculty/professor [on line] at the Texila American University, South America
since 2024. Dr. Rajendra holds his Ph.D. in Tropical Medicine (Epidemiology) from Mahidol University,
Thailand, and has completed various internationally recognized short courses and research-related
trainings, including research ethics, from reputable institutions worldwide [The Graduate Institute
(Switzerland), International Vaccine Institute (South Korea), Harvard University (USA), The University of
Alabama (USA), Queen Margret University (UK), European Educational Programme in Epidemiology (Italy),
Danish International Development Assistance (Denmark), Health Systems Research Institute (Thailand),
Colombo University (Sri Lanka), Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), Indian Council of Medical Research
(India), etc.]
He has a long-standing association with the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), where he served in
multiple capacities: as a Research Officer from 1996 to 2004, Chief Research Officer from 2005 to 2007, and
later as a part-time Research Advisor in 2010-2012, 2014, and 2018. He also contributed as a Consultant
from 2019 to 2020 and in 2022 and also currently in 2025. Beyond the NHRC, he has worked with key
national agencies, such as the National Planning Commission (NPC) and the Policy Research Institute (PRI),
as well as international organizations, including UN agencies, the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), and
the European Union (EU). In 2013, Dr. Rajendra served as the Nepali Lead Researcher for the renowned
Xtreme-Everest 2 project, which gained international attention and was featured in a four-episode series
on Al Jazeera TV titled “CURE.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was a national consultant for
NHSSP/Options/UKAid, preparing periodic epidemiological analytical briefs on Nepal's COVID-19 status
and response. He played a crucial role in shaping research ethics in Nepal, contributing to the development
of national ethical guidelines for health research from 2001 to 2024 and creating a research ethics training
curriculum in 2014.
Dr. Rajendra has a passion for teaching and has frequently engaged in academia, instructing research
methodology in number of medical and public health institutions, and supervising variety of PhD level
students from various universities [University of Cambridge (UK), University of Aberdeen (UK), University of
Liverpool (UK), Texila American University (South America); Jaipur National University (India), Singhania
University (India), and BRAC University (Bangladesh) and Tribhuvan University (Nepal)].
With over 25 years of experience in health, nutrition, biomedical research, and ethics, he has led numerous
research projects both domestically and internationally. His expertise spans a wide range of advisory,
supervisory, and coordinating roles across health, nutrition, and biomedical research.
He has served as a national consultant for high-profile health research initiatives. His contributions to
national health strategies include involvement in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as leadership in major national projects like the National
Micronutrient Survey (2015-2017), the Multi-Sectoral Nutritional Plan (2022-2023), and Epidemic Crisis
Management (2024). He has already published number of research based articles, national level documents
(including research ethics, policy, plans, guidelines, policy briefs and modules) and proceedings reports.

PUBLICATIONS

1. Assessment of quality of essential medicines in public health care facilities of Nepal: Findings of nationwide study, PLOS Global Public Health (2023) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0001841
2. Factors Associated with Inflammation in Preschool Children and Women of Reproductive Age in Nepal, Journal of Health and Environmental Research (2022) doi: 10.11648/j.jher.20220802.12
3. Status of Sickle Cell Disease among Tharu Population in Banke district of Nepal, International Journal of Life Science and Pharma Research (2021) doi: 10.22376/ijpbs/Ipr.2021.11.5.L88-93
4. National Level Preparedness for Implementing the Health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Seven South Asian Countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Global Policy (2019) doi: 10.1111/1758-5899.12753
5. Effects of Disasters on Primary Health Care in Low Income Countries”, Journal of Nepal Health Research Council (Indexed/Medline), 2019, January-March, 17(42), 1-8
6. Mid Term Review of EU – UNICEF ‘Partnership for Improved Nutrition’ / (‘Poshanka lagi hatemalo’) in Nepal (December 2018)
7. Pilot Study of National Mental Health Survey, Nepal published by Nepal Health Research Council, Ramshah Path, Kathmandu, Nepal (September 2018) http://nhrc.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Pilot-national-mental-health.pdf
8. Nepal National Micro-nutrition Status Survey Report 2016 published by Government of Nepal, UNICEF, UN House, Pulchowk, Lalitpur (August 2018) https://www.unicef.org/nepal/reports/nepal-national-micronutrient-status-survey-report-2016
9. Thrifty phenotype versus cold adaptation: trade-offs in upper limb proportions of Himalayan populations of Nepal, Royal Society Open Science (Indexed/Medline), June 2018
10. Policy research institutions and the health SDGs: building momentum in South Asia – country report, Nepal (2017) https://www.idrc.ca/en/project/policy-research-institutions-and-health-sdgs-building-momentum-south-asia

Karuna Onta holds a PhD in Social Psychology and Masters in Clinical Psychology. Karuna Onta has development experience of nearly three decades. Her professional experience ranges from teaching Psychology in Tribhuwan University, Kathmandu to working in National and International Non-Government Organizations in Nepal and other countries like India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Vietnam. The organizations include Family Planning Association of Nepal, Johns Hopkins University/Population Communication Services, Academy for Educational Development, CARE and UNICEF Regional Office of South Asia. Her last full-time job was with the Foreign and Common Wealth Development Office/British Embassy Kathmandu Nepal, where she served as a Social Development Advisor for eleven years.

She brings a variety technical expertise in the area of women empowerment, security and justice, gender-based violence, gender equality and social inclusion, social norms change, masculinity, modern slavery/trafficking, social protection and safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

In addition to being a board member at the Nepal Public Health Foundation, Karuna sits on the board of trustees of Freedom to Learn (a UK based charity), Great International (a Nepali private non-profit firm) and is a strategic advisor to Sajha Dhago (a non-profit private firm) working on trauma healing.

Karuna is currently working as a freelance consultant with the World Bank Nepal and the Swiss National Science Foundation, Switzerland.

Dr. Aruna Uprety is a public health specialist, women’s rights activist, and a strong advocate of healthy eating habits and lifestyles. She is also a Former President of Nepal Public Health Foundation. Dr. Uprety is the founder of Rural Health and Education Services Trust (R.H.E.S.T), which works to prevent trafficking and improve reproductive health, and one of the leading voices against ‘Chhaupadi’ in the Accham District.  She received her master’s degree in Arts from the Women and Development Institute of Social Studies the Hague, The Netherlands. She did her M.D from Kharkiv State Medical Institute Ukraine (Former Soviet Union).

She has worked with the Ministry of Health for about 8 years on maternity hospital and family planning projects. Her close hands-on experience in the maternity ward inspired her desire to advocate for women’s rights and health. Dr. Uprety was involved with many different Non-governmental organizations, which allowed her to travel to different Nepalese regions. She also worked in Afghanistan, Iran, India, Laos, China, Sri Lanka, Sudan as a public health specialist and gained experience. She learned about problems associated with malnutrition among children and its reasons while working in rural areas of Nepal. She had conducted research on reasons for malnutrition and advocated on how to reduce this. She learned about local food, health, cultural practice, and its importance for healthy living. She has written many articles on this issue and has presented her ideas in many national and international seminars.

Prof. Dr. Lochana Shrestha is a proactive Preventive Medicine Medical Graduate with over 25 years of experience in Preventive Medicine, Public Health, International Health, and Geriatric Health. Alongside her involvement in medical academia, she has worked on health project management and various international health issues such as TB, HIV/AIDS, Geriatric, and Child Health. She possesses technical expertise in project development, management, monitoring, and supervision, as well as the creation of technical documents and guidelines pertaining to health matters.

Dr. Shrestha extensive experience includes significant work in the field of HIV/AIDS and TB at both national and international levels. I have a strong passion for developing preventive medicine as a subject in the medical field, with a particular focus on addressing emerging health issues and producing community-oriented medical professionals. Furthermore, she has dedicated herself to improve Geriatric Healthcare, aiming to alleviate the suffering experienced by elderly individuals at the end of life due to a lack of adequate healthcare services.
Qualification: MBBS, MD Community Medicine (India), MIPH (Sydney, Australia), Fellow in Geriatrics (India)

Current Position:

• Professor and Head of Department of Community Medicine in National Army Institute of Health and Science (NAIHS), Kathmandu Since November 2011.
• Chairman (Medical Director) of Health Home Care Nepal (Residential Elderly Care Home), Sanepa, Lalitpur since March 2012.
• Director Planning Research and Development Department, NAIHS, 2021
• Member, Ethical Review board, Nepal Health research Council (NHRC)
• Member of Council of UN International Institute on Aging, Malta/ILC-I Satellite Center for SAARC region
• President of Nepal Public Health Foundation (NPHF) Sept 2023
• Past President of Nepalese Society of Community Medicine (NESCOM)
• Board Member of Alzheimer And Related Dementia Society (ARDS)
• Member of Medical Education Council

Other Engagements

• Council Member UN International Institute On Ageing
• General Secretary, Nepal Charter Of Asian Association Of Transfusion Medicine
• Member Association Of Nepalese Alumni From Australia
• Member International Federation Of Aging
• Member International Vitamin D Council
• Member International HIV/ AIDS Alliance

Previous Engagements

• TB And HIV AIDS Advisor, Save The Children International
• Epidemiologist, SAARC TB And HIV.AIDS Centers
• Short Term Consultancy On HIV/AIDS in WHO
• Focal Person For HIV/AIDS At NCASC
• Resource Person And Facilitator For Trainings On HIV/AIDS In Different SAARC Countries

Publication:

1. Prevalence of Hypertension and its Associated Risk Factors among Military Personnel of Nepali Army in Selected Military Barracks of Nepal
2. Plasma Vitamin B-12 Levels and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Case-Control Study
3. Prevalence of Anemia in Adolescent Girls attending Specific Schools of Kavrepalanchok, Nepal
4. JNMA I VOL 59 I ISSUE 234
5. Nutrition and Health Status Assessment of Geriatric People of One Rural District in Nepal
6. Motivational Profiles of Medical Students of Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences
7. Community Health Profile of Four VDCs of North-West Part of Kathmandu
8. Geriatric health in Nepal: concerns and experience
9. Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) study on diabetes mellitus among Nepalese diabetic patients
10. HEALTH STATUS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN OF POKHARA VALLEY, NEPAL
11. PREVALENCE OF STREPTOCOCCAL PHARYNGITIS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN OF POKHARA VALLEY, NEPAL

Dr. Sameer Mani Dixit is a biomedical research scientist working in the public health sector of Nepal, focusing on infectious diseases. His postgraduate and Doctorate degrees are in Immunology and Recombinant DNA technology from Australia. His experience in public health research is over 15 years and over 20 years in basic/applied science. He has been actively involved in various forms of academic and programmatic research of public health importance- usually as Team Leader/ Principle Investigator. His work experience has allowed him to develop working relationships with various national and international organizations. His strength is in planning and implementing field and laboratory based (biomedical) research in infectious diseases of public health importance in developing countries.

Recent publications:

1. Sakas Z, Hester KA, Ellis A,..Dixit SM.. et al., Critical success factors for high routine immunisation performance: a qualitative analysis of interviews and focus groups from Nepal, Senegal, and Zambia. BMJ Open 2023;13:e070541. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070541
2. Bednarczyk RA, Hester KA, Dixit SM, et al., Exemplars in vaccine delivery protocol: a case-study-based identification and evaluation of critical factors in achieving high and sustained childhood immunisation coverage in selected low-income and lower-middle-income countries. BMJ Open 2022;12:e058321. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058321
3. Hester, K.A.; Sakas, Z.; Ellis, A.S.; Bose, A.S.; Darwar, R.; Gautam, J.; Jaishwal, C.; James, H.; Keskinocak, P.; Nazzal, D.; et al. Critical Success Factors for High Routine Immunization Performance: A Case Study of Nepal. Vaccine X 2022, 12, 100214.
4. Manandhar S.,..Dixit SM., et al. Risk factors for the development of neonatal sepsis in a neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital of Nepal. 2021. BMC Infectious Diseases (2021) 21:546 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06261-x
5. Dixit SM, Sarr M, Gueye DM, et al., Addressing disruptions in childhood routine immunisation services during the COVID-19 pandemic: perspectives from Nepal, Senegal and Liberia. BMJ Global Health 2021;6:e005031.
6. Hogan, S, McBride, K, Page, & Dixit, SM. Hepatitis B prevalence in the Indian Subcontinent: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Epidemiol 50(1), 10.1093/ije/dyab168.282.
7. Hogan, S., Page, A., Ogbo, F., Dixit, S.M., et al. Trends and determinants of HIV transmission among men who inject drugs in the Pokhara Valley, Nepal: analysis of cross-sectional studies. BMC Public Health 21, 269 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10331-9
8. Schwind, J.S.; Norman, S.A.; Rahman, M.K.; Richmond, H.L.; Dixit, S.M.; Rajbhandari, R.M.; Wagner, S.K.; Karmacharya, D. Health Reporting Characteristics among Journalists in Nepal Utilizing a One Health Framework. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 2784. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/ijerph18052784
9. Luxton JJ, McKenna MJ, Lewin A Dixit SM.. et. al. Telomere Length Dynamics and DNA Damage Responses Associated with Long- Duration Spaceflight.2020. Cell Reports 33(10):108457
10. KC S, Murphy H, Dixit SM, et al. Hepatitis C (HCV) therapy for HCV mono-infected and HIV-HCV co-infected individuals living in Nepal. 2020. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 14(12):e0008931
11. Gyawali N, Johnson B, Dixit SM and Devine GJ. Patterns of Dengue in Nepal from 2010-2019 in Relation to Elevation and Climate. 2020.Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 115(3):1-9
12. Nelson, A., Manandhar, S., Ruzante, J. et al., and Dixit SM (corresponding author). Antimicrobial drug resistant non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica in commercial poultry value chain in Chitwan, Nepal. One Health Outlook 2, 18 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42522-020-00025-4

Dr. Mahesh Kumar Maskey is a prominent public health expert. He is the Founding chair and executive chief of Nepal Public Health Foundation. His focus and expertise includes perinatal epidemiology, health policy and planning, health systems research and the generation of evidence for health policy formulation on a national and international level. He was a member of Advisory Council for Health Research of World Health Organization South East Asia Region. Between 2006 and 2009, he was the Executive Chair to the Nepal Health Research Council, Government of Nepal. During this time, he was also Advisor to the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population, Mr. Amik Serchan, Chair of High level Health Policy Advisory Committee of Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal, and Chair of the South Asian Forum for Health Research. He is a published author and had presented papers in many regional and international conferences. During 2007 to 2010, he contributed in the drafting of Three year interim health plan of Government of Nepal. In 2006, he designed targeted free health care services in district hospitals and primary health care centres, and Universal free health care services in sub health post and health post level in Nepal. He has also been chair of High Level Health Policy Advisory Committee, Ministry of Health where he had to coordinate the panel of distinguished health policy experts for policy feedback to MoH. He has also been a teaching assistant in Epidemiology and Bio statistics, Boston University, USA, in 1997 to 2000. During 1987, he was Assistant Professor in Institute of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Family Health. He has served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to People’s Republic of China (2012- 2016).

Work Experiences:

• Executive Chair, Nepal Health Research Council, Government of Nepal, Nepal 2006-2009
• Chief Advisor, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Nepal, Mr. Amik Serchan (2006-2007).
• Chair, South Asian Forum for Health Research, Nepal, 2007-2009
• Member of Advisory Committee for Health Research (ACHR), WHO, SEARO (2007-9)
• Executive Vice Chair, New Health Policy Drafting Committee, Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal, 2017

Doctoral Thesis: Preventable Risk Factors of Perinatal Mortality in Nepal, Boston University School of Public Health, USA.

Special area of Interest: Perinatal epidemiology, community-based health system, community engagement with particular focus on maternal and child health.

ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION: Developed Motherhood Method for measuring maternal, perinatal, neonatal and infant mortality in developing countries based on Doctoral Thesis research on “Preventable Factors of Perinatal Mortality in Nepal”.

AWARD:

1. Distinguished Alumni Award: Boston University, MA, USA, 2017
2. Distinguished Alumni Award: School of Public Health, Boston University, MA, USA, 2014

REASEARCH:

1. Principle Investigator: National study in Burden of Disease in Nepal, Nepal Health
   Research Council, Kathmandu Nepal. 2008-9
2. Principle Investigator (2011-2012): overcoming barriers for skill birth attendents,
   Nepal. Funded by WHO, Geneva.
3. Co-PI, Exemplars in Under-5 Mortality: Nepal Case Study funded by Gates Ventures and
   the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 2018.
4. Co-PI, Exemplar in Stunting reduction, Nepal, Sick Kids, Canada, funded by BGC3. 2017-2018
5. Co-PI, Exemplar in Under-five mortality reduction, Nepal, partner University of Global Health
6. Equity, Rwanda and funded by BGC3. 2018.

Policy Developments

1. Contributed in drafting National Health Policy of Government of Nepal emphasizing MCH, NCD and mental health care
2. Designed Targeted free health care service in district hospitals and primary health care centers and universal free health care services in sub health post and health post level, Nepal