Career summary
Biography
Dr Binod is currently working with the Nepalese government as a secretary, Ministry of Health and Population, Gandaki province. He has been providing the overall leadership to the province government's healthcare system. He provided the leadership in developing province health policies and strategies. Dr Binod has been supervising to more than 7000 health professionals of the province. He has been engaged in lobbying government to improve policy, public health program and finance environment to enhance human resource capacity and strengthen all (759) local health institutions including eleven district public health offices and twelve district hospitals of the Gandaki province. Before joining the ministry as a secretary, Dr Binod served the province government as a director of the health services. Dr Binod has also been serving to the University of Newcastle, Australia as a Conjoint Lecturer. He is a Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) affiliate.
Dr Binod has earned a PhD in public health from the University of Newcastle, Australia. His research focused on addressing the high rates of maternal health conditions and mortality in rural Nepal. He worked to design, develop and implement a model of community led intervention for maternal health, which presented to the Nepalese government with a view towards rolling it out across the country. Upon completion of the PhD, he worked with the University of Newcastle as a Student Researcher. He rolled out the interventions in the control population and adjoining communities of the intervention cluster in Nepal. Dr Binod has also studied master's degrees in public health and sociology, as well as a post graduate degree in health education.
Dr Binod is passionate in training and teaching. As a director of the provincial health training centres, he engaged in training medical officers, district public/health managers including community health officers for more than eighteen years. While studying for a PhD at the University of Newcastle, he was engaged in teaching Master of Public Health students. Dr Binod has also been teaching public health at the Pokhara University, Nepal.
Dr Binod has two and half decades of experience working in a variety of roles within the Nepalese government. Dr Binod served the government as the Director of the National Health Education, Information and Communication Centre (NHEICC) within the Ministry of Health and Population in Nepal from March until October 2014. He provided leadership in design, development and dissemination of national health communication programs throughout the country. As head of the focal organisation for non-communicable diseases, Dr Binod helped develop national consensus to increase the size of pictorial health warnings on the surface area of all tobacco packaging to ninety percent, which is the highest percentage in the Asian continent. For this attainment Nepal was awarded a Bloomberg Philanthropies Award for Global Tobacco Control in 2015.
Dr Binod began working with the Nepalese government in 1995, where he was engaged in training health care managers, paramedical staff and community health professionals. In one of the training centres (Pokhara), he designed and implemented a result-oriented leadership development program, where support staff (cleaners) were trained and empowered to manage the general affairs of the organisation. The interventions produced rewarding outcomes, both in terms of physical improvements to the organisation, as well as enhanced cohesiveness amongst staff. This learning experience encouraged senior staff to take on challenging goals. Dr Binod successfully led the team to develop an International Training Centre in Nepal. With sustained effort and diligent focus, team Pokhara succeeded to have their Centre approved by the government as an International Health Training Centre, which is first of this kind in the country.
Dr Binod worked with the Swiss Red Cross Eye Care Project as an ophthalmic professional. As a Chairman of Staff Association, he helped to foster productive, harmonious relationships between staff and management, and played a critical role in dispute management in the organisational environment. He organised free community-based eye care camps with the participation of school-based Junior Red Cross circles. Dr Binod was assigned as head of the first conceptual Primary Eye Care Centre to be extended from city to remote districts. He successfully organised static clinic, community eye care camps, and engaged junior Red Cross volunteers (school students) in community awareness programs including training community eye care volunteers. Based on the success of his community-based eye care programs, similar models have been extended to more than eighty percent of rural districts in Nepal.
Dr Binod also has experience working with Peace Corps/ Nepal. He coordinated two pre-service training programs for American volunteers before their two years of volunteer assignment in Nepal. While engaged in this role, he coordinated language, cultural, and social interaction, subject specific training and exposure programs in the villages.
Director / spokesperson: COVID-19 pandemic, province government, Gandaki province, Pokhara, Nepal
During the unforeseen cascade of events leading up to WHO declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic, Dr Binod as the Chief of Health Directorate, Gandaki province, coordinated and managed the responsibility being the commander of co-ordinating various endeavours to prevent and control the spread of this highly contagious disease.
- Promptly took the initiative for training health care professionals, particularly lab professionals for sample collection and procuring the types of equipment needed for the diagnostics, quarantining and isolation of the suspected and infected individuals.
- Lobbied with the province government to have established intensive care units (ICUs) in each (11) district hospital. The province government approved the proposal and provided with the budget for a total of 51 ICU beds in the province.
- Developed laboratory and case management protocols and organised orientation training to district health teams.
- Organised training to district hospital teams on critical cases management.
- Coordinated to organise training to nursing staff working in intensive care unit (ICU) environment.
- During the program intervention, Dr Binod and his team took a proactive approach for disseminating public service announcements (PSAs) regarding different economic and physio-social facets about COVID-19, through different social media platforms. This was instrumental in penetrating the grassroots of the community with key messages to improve individual, family and community practices.
- Assessing the evolution of the situation at global as well as the local standpoint, Dr Binod stalwartly advised the Social development ministry to continue to enforce the lockdown measures and implement zero-tolerance policy except for the essential services and products.
- Numerous hours of consultation and arrangement with the healthcare providers to ensure quality delivery of health services.
- Field visits to highly vulnerable areas where the diagnosed cases are being managed and monitored.
- Interviews and press-releases in FMs and YouTube outlets to inform the residents of the latest updates and efforts being conducted on a daily basis.
- Also lobbied for special attention to the well-being and encouragement funding for those in the frontlines in the battle against the malady of COVID-19.
Key competencies and influence on policy development
Key Competencies
- Leadership – Providing leadership for program development, strategy development and advocacy.
- Training - Organising the training of trainers on a wide range of health and management issues.
- Finance – Development and administration of project budgets and training budgets. Administration of major departmental allocations up to $16.2m USD annually.
- Human resource management- Twenty-five years’ experience in managing human resources, through organisational management, training and development.
- Coordination – Coordinating specific training needs through workshops, curriculum development, community health projects, inter-agency collaboration or intervention research, as appropriate.
- Risk taking - Transforming work culture in government system environment through a result-oriented leadership development program.
Influence on policy development
My research into community education through singing health messages has been given detailed consideration by the Government of Nepal. At the community level, before the intervention, it was a taboo for males to discuss pregnancy and childbirth issues. Most unexpectedly, after the intervention, this situation has been reversed. Our surveys show that each pregnancy is now discussed and is seen as both a family and community responsibility. As a result, the culture of maternal care has been completely transformed in the intervention villages. For example, pregnancy and childbirth issues are never left undiscussed and it is unusual for any family to remain ignorant and inactive regarding pregnancy and birth. Recognising these positive changes brought about by the intervention, the Government of Nepal has adopted the practice of community education through singing health messages and created a new budgeted program headquartered in Gandaki province. As a result of my PhD project and further related work, the Government has also announced the provision of an air ambulance, increased the incentives for institutional delivery, set a requirement of four antenatal visits for expectant mothers and improved the recording and reporting of maternal mortality. The Government has reaffirmed this commitment by making budget allocations to continue these provisions. Within a year and half of these announcements, a total of 137 obstructed women had been airlifted from rural districts to receive skilled care at the provincial hospitals.
Advocacy and lobbying for policy change
In addition to my published work, I am constantly engaged in sharing its results and positive impacts: through improved pregnancy and childbirth practices at the community level; and through advocacy at the government level to influence policy decisions. For example, after a successful advocacy program, the Government of Nepal adopted a policy I promoted to provide free sanitary pads to all public-school going girls, thus helping girls to continue their schooling and improve their education, health and income potentials, all essential for improved social standing.
Both the government and community were credited for the positive results achieved. A few interviews were featured in the national television channels and national and local radio programs (see media coverage and videos). One of the research interventions has been featured on the webpage of University of Newcastle, Australia. Link https://www.newcastle.edu.au/research-and-innovation/research-impact/saving-the-lives-of-nepalese-women.
Collaborations, partnerships and achievements
Collaborative vision for sustained transformation 2015 - 2017
- Designed, developed and implemented projects to facilitate in the community to improve maternal health outcomes in Nepal with Laureate Professor Roger Smith AM and Professor Deborah Loxton.
Inter-University coordination 2017
- Assisted the University of Newcastle, Australia and Pokhara University to develop collaborative programs to foster academic interactions that benefit both Universities and fellow students. Plans are underway to formalise these inter-University collaborations.
Collaboration for community development 2017
- Initiated with key specialists, including Dr Henry Murray, Head of Department, Obstetrics and Gynecology at John Hunter Children’s Hospital, to organise training for Nepalese rural nurses and a gynecological health clinic in remote villages of Nepal. As a result, a team headed by Dr Murray visited Nepal in October 2017.
Inter-Agency coordination 2014
- Collaborated with all the external donor partners (EDPs) working in the field of health and development in Nepal to implement the “one door” policy for health education, information and communication programs.
International collaboration for development 2014
- Coordinated with Johns Hopkins University Centre for Communication Program (JHU CCP) and national and local stake holders to design, develop and implement the mobile health (m-Health) program targeting youths to educate them on sexual and reproductive health issues in Nepal.
Nationwide campaign for policy change on Tobacco Control 2014
- Upon having approval from the government, as a Director of National Health Education, Information and Communication Centre, I issued "Directives on printing warning messages and pictures on tobacco product boxes, packets, cartons, parcels and packaging materials, 2014”. The last directive increased the size of the graphic health warnings from 75 percent to 90 percent of the front and back of all tobacco product packaging, beginning in 2015.
- Organised nationwide campaign to develop national consensus to increase the size of pictorial health warnings to 90 percent of the area of the packaging which is the highest percentage in the Asian continent.
Achievements
Following my work on tobacco labelling, Nepal was awarded a Bloomberg Philanthropies Award for Global Tobacco Control in 2015.
Coordination for public education and sensitisation 2014
- Coordinated the development of a video documentary entitled “Mission Anti-Tobacco” based on the experience of then Minister for Health Mr Khaga Raj Adhikari to educate people on the consequences of tobacco use. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4mZSGbH6_o
Organisation and management of international training program Apr 19-30, 2010
- Coordinated international training on "Programming to strengthen maternal and child healthcare through community participation" in International Training Centre, Pokhara, Nepal.
International program management 2009
- Organised and managed international observation training programs on community engagement for improved health service utilisation.
Local coordination Dec 6 -10, 2008
- Coordinated with local Tourism College and local hotels to organise hospitality management training for health care providers and the staff of International Training Centre.
Collaborative initiative for transformation 2007
- Designed and implemented a result-oriented leadership development program, where support staff (cleaners) were trained and empowered to organise training for cleaners of other organisations, and also facilitated helping to manage the general affairs of the organisation.
Team work for a shared goal 2006
- Successfully proposed to the Government of Nepal to upgrade Regional Health Training Centre Pokhara as an International Health Training Centre
- Organised advocacy programs to help health executives, Members of Parliament, the National Planning Commission and other stakeholders to understand the national and international significance of the proposed proposal International Training Centre.
- Coordinated the development of a promotional documentary on “Nepal’s Vision to Develop International Training Centre” link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDe43yXXePc
- As proposed, The Regional Health Training Centre, Pokhara was approved by the government as an International Health Training Centre, the first of its kind in the country.
- Ministerial communications with World Health Organization/ Nepal and South-East Asia Regional Office are underway to develop this Centre as a WHO Collaborating Centre.
National training by international experts 2004
- Coordinated with the Ministry of Health and population, Nepal, the British Council and Nuffield Institute for Health (UK) to organise training in “Decentralized Management & Planning for Health” required for the senior health professionals of Gandaki province.
Professional experience with the US Governmental Agency Aug - Dec 98 / Sep-Nov 2000
- Experience working with Peace Corps/ Nepal. Coordinated two pre-service training programs for American volunteers before their two-year assignment in Nepal. Coordinated language, cultural, and social interactions, subject specific training and exposure programs in the villages.
Developing a model of rural eye care – Thinking beyond the box 1986 - 1995
- Worked with the Swiss Red Cross Eye Care Project as an ophthalmic professional. Organised free community-based eye care screening and surgical camps with the participation of the community and Junior Red Cross circles.
- Assigned as Head of the first conceptual Primary Eye Care Centre to be extended from city to remote districts. Managed the static clinic and engaged the community in the eye care programs.
- Developed a model community owned eye care program.
- Extended a similar model in the rural districts of Nepal.
Leading community to achieving higher goals 1982– 1983
- Coordinated and led the group of villagers to collect the donation within the remote villages to construct a primary school. A few thousand Rupees were collected sufficient to buy the materials that were not available in the village. The money collected and the sense of community developed helped acquire the land and construct the school. The school named “Jiwan Jyoti Primary School” in remote village of Parbat district of Nepal is well functioning with a total of 49 students.
Professional assignments
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Secretary Ministry of Health and Population, Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal (June 2021 - hitherto) |
Dr Binod is currently working with the Nepalese government as a secretary, Ministry of Health and Population, Gandaki province. He has been providing the overall leadership to the province government's healthcare system. He provided the leadership in developing province health policies and strategies. Dr Binod has been supervising to more than 7000 health professionals of the province. He has been engaged in lobbying government to improve policy, public health program and finance environment to enhance human resource capacity and strengthen all (759) local health institutions including eleven district public health offices and twelve district hospitals of the Gandaki province. Before joining the ministry as the secretary, Dr Binod served the province government as a director of the health services. Dr Binod has also been serving to the University of Newcastle, Australia as a Conjoint Lecturer. He is a Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) affiliate.
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Director Health Directorate Ministry of Health and Population, Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal (2019 - 2021) |
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Conjoint Lecturer University of Newcastle, Australia Callaghan NSW 2308 (2020 - Hitherto) |
Dr Binod is serving to the University of Newcastle, Australia as a Conjoint Lecturer. He is a Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) affiliate.
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Student Researcher University of Newcastle, Australia (2018) Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia |
Upon completion of the PhD, Dr Binod worked with the University of Newcastle as a Student Researcher. He rolled out the interventions in the control population and adjoining communities of the intervention cluster in Nepal.
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PhD Researcher University of Newcastle, Australia (2014 - 2018) Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia |
Research leading to sustained policy changes: Designed developed and implemented a model of community led intervention for maternal health, which presented to the Nepalese government with a view towards rolling it out across the country. The Nepalese government announced the provision of an air ambulance, increased the incentives for institutional delivery, set a requirement of four antenatal visits for expectant mothers and improved the recording and reporting of maternal mortality. The Government has reaffirmed this commitment by making budget allocations to continue these provisions.
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Director National Health Education, Information and Communication Centre (NHEICC) and different Regional Health Training Centres Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal (1995 - 2014) |
Dr Binod served the government as the Director of the National Health Education, Information and Communication Centre (NHEICC) within the Ministry of Health and Population in Nepal from March until October 2014. He provided leadership in design, development and dissemination of national health communication programs throughout the country. As head of the focal organisation for non-communicable diseases, Dr Binod helped develop national consensus to increase the size of pictorial health warnings on the surface area of all tobacco packaging to ninety percent, which is the highest percentage in the Asian continent. For this attainment Nepal was awarded a Bloomberg Philanthropies Award for Global Tobacco Control in 2015.
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Technical Training Coordinator Peace Corps/Nepal (Aug - Dec 1998 and Sep - Nov 2000) |
• Developed pre-service training curriculum for Peace Corps volunteers.
• Conducted pre-service training to Water Sanitation Coordinators (American Citizens) on health, water and sanitation programs.
• Organized sessions on cross-cultural adaptation and facilitated cultural learning exposures.
• Evaluated training program and developed a technical manual.
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Ophthalmic Officer / Regional Health Educator Swiss Red Cross / Eye Care Project Fateh Bal Eye Hospital, Nepalgunj, Nepal (1989 - 1995) |
- Conducted training needs assessment of eye care providers and community eye care volunteers in the region.
- Developed training curriculum and organized training on community eye care and program management.
- Performed eye examinations and minor surgical interventions.
- Coordinated with local GOs, INGOs and NGOs for effective implementation of eye care programs.
- Introduced community eye care volunteers program with the help of the Red Cross local chapter and community.
- Planned and conducted basic training for community eye care volunteers.
- Organized community eye care camps with the help of trained volunteers through community participation.
- Managed static clinic and community programs including human resource, administration and finance.
Recognitions / Awards
1. Awarded with a prestigious "Nepal Bidhya Bhushan Kha" by then President of Nepal, Dr Ram Baran Yadav for having been able to secure the highest marks (CGPA 4/4) and rank in the University of Bangladesh while studying Master of Public Health (MPH).
2. The government of Nepal, Mid Western Regional Health Directorate awarded with the “Best Service Award” in the field of training and program development.
3. Awarded with an Outstanding Eye Care Services Management in Bardia District by the Nepal Red Cross Society District Chapter Bardia.
Qualifications
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2014-2018 |
PhD (Public Health) |
University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia |
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2006 |
Master of Public Health |
State University of Bangladesh, Bangladesh |
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2000 |
Master of Sociology |
Tribhuvan University, Nepal |
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1994 |
Diploma in Health Education |
Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, India |
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1992 |
Bachelor of Humanities |
Tribhuvan University, Nepal |
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1989 |
Certificate in Ophthalmology |
Council of Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), Nepal |
Keywords
Public health; pregnancy; antenatal care; skilled birth; maternal mortality; singing; community education; community leadership; community engagement; Nepal;
Associations
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Member, Subject Committee/ Public Health, Department of Health Sciences |
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Member Rotary International |
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National Vice-President (Life Member) |