Karnali—Swiss Ambassador to Nepal, Danielle Meuwly, successfully wrapped up her visit to Karnali Province, reinforcing Switzerland’s commitment to mental health services and earthquake recovery efforts in the region.
During her visit, Ambassador Meuwly met with Chief Minister of Karnali Province, Yamlal Kandel, to discuss Swiss support in advancing mental health services and post-earthquake reconstruction. A key milestone of the visit was the Steering Committee meeting on the provincial mental health strategy, which builds upon existing initiatives aimed at improving mental well-being in the region.
During her field mission, the Ambassador visited Surkhet, where she engaged with beneficiaries of Swiss-supported psychosocial counseling. Witnessing firsthand the positive impact of mental health services, she expressed her admiration for the resilience and transformation of individuals benefiting from Swiss-backed programs.
Similarly Ambassador Meuwly also traveled to Jajarkot, where she met Bimala BK, a survivor of the devastating Jajarkot earthquake. Bimala lost her home in the disaster but was able to rebuild through the Swiss-funded Skills and Reconstruction project, which provides masonry training for earthquake-resilient housing. Seeing Bimala’s newly reconstructed home, the Ambassador highlighted the importance of community-driven recovery efforts and the strength of individuals overcoming adversity.
The visit began with a productive discussion in Bheri Municipality, where Ambassador Meuwly met with Mayor Chandra Prakash Gharti to review the progress of Swiss-supported mental health and psychosocial services. She also interacted with beneficiaries of these programs, acknowledging the local government’s dedication to enhancing mental health services.
The Swiss Ambassador’s visit to Karnali underscores Switzerland’s ongoing support for mental health initiatives and post-earthquake reconstruction, reaffirming the strong partnership between Switzerland and Nepal in addressing critical social and developmental challenges.
