NIRI successfully organised a dissemination program and stakeholder meeting for the Nepal Family Cohort Study (NeFCoS) at Lumbini Buddhist University, Parsa, Lumbini. The event marked a significant milestone in presenting the study’s key findings and discussing its future directions with diverse stakeholders, including representatives from municipalities, wards, health institutions, schools, and community organizations.

Dr. Rajendra Pangeni, chairperson of NIRI, formally welcomed the all participants virtually. He expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders including municipalities, wards, research staff and research participants for supporting and coordinating the Nepal Family Cohort Study in Lumbini.

Dr. Om Kurmi, the Principal Investigator, presented the findings to an engaged audience, emphasising the implications of the study for improving public health. He presented that the study has found some alarming data on the health status of people in Lumbini particularly the burden of lung health problems. He stated that the data are being analyzed and the team will publish the research findings in an international journal soon. He assured that final copy of the research paper will be distributed to the related stakeholders.

Suraj Parajuli, an administrative officer and research fellow at NIRI Nepal, highlighted the need for health care research with multidisciplinary approach to advance the health outcome of citizen in Nepal. He stated that raising awareness in the community and appealing to local authorities to take steps for evidence based policy making were the main goals of the programme.

Stakeholders expressed strong support for the initiative, with Ms. Laxmi Parajuli, Chief of the Education Section at Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality, pledging to promote lung health awareness in schools. Similarly, Mr. Rajendra Chaudhary, Public Health Inspector of the same municipality, reiterated their commitment to improving community health. In Mayadevi Rural Municipality, Ward No. 2 Chairperson Mr. Agnu Yadav appreciated NIRI’s contributions and assured continued support for the study’s follow-up phase. Deputy Mayor of Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality, Ms. Kalpana Harijung, highlighted the importance of leveraging the findings to develop policies and programs, while the former Mayor of the municipality stressed the necessity of prioritizing health research for long-term benefits.

The program, chaired by social worker Rudra Nath Chaudhary, was a platform for participants to recognize the value of the research. He commended NIRI’s efforts in addressing critical health issues through evidence-based approaches. The baseline data collection for the study successfully recruited over 17,000 participants, including children and their parents, creating a robust foundation for longitudinal research that promises deeper insights into public health challenges in Nepal.

NIRI expressed its gratitude to the municipalities of Lumbini Sanskritik, Mayadevi, Kotahimai, and Waling for their support, as well as to the funding institutions, collaborators, field staff, and research participants who made this initiative possible. The institute remains dedicated to continuing its research journey, aiming to enhance the health and well-being of communities across Nepal through innovative and impactful studies.