EXPANDED PROGRAMME ON IMMUNISATION (EPI)
There has been a slight in crease in vaccine coverage over the last fiscal year. Does administered to children under one year of age have gone from 4,810,370 to 4,846,081. The reported coverage of different antigens at the national level was 94.6% for BCG, 80.0% for oral polio vaccine (OPV3), 80.0% for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT3) and 75.0% for measles. For the eradication of polio, NIDs and mop - ups were organised. These activities made substantial contributions towards the goal of eradicating polio from Nepal. Similarly steps for eliminating neonatal tetanus is being undertaken.

NUTRITION
There was an increase in new growth- monitoring visits from to 655,228 to 747,530 and in total visits from 923,928 to 1,091,425 which represents an increase of 18.13% in new visits per 100 children under three years of age. The proportion of new cases of malnourished children decreased slightly at the national level from 20.9% to 18.3%. The range by region was from 13.6% to22.0%.

CINTROL OF DIARRHOEAL DISEASES (CDD)
Diarrhoeal diseases are still a major problem for Nepalese children. Records show that it is the second most prevalent diagnosis in outpatient services. However, there has been an increase in the total number of new diarrhoeal cases from 550,392 to 608,347 reported over the last two fiscal years. In the last fiscal year, the incidence of diarrhoea per 1,000 children under five years increased from 164 to 177, and the proportion of new "severe dehydration" cases decreased from 5.4%to 4.3%. The majority (88.9%) of dehydration cases were treated with oral rehydration solution (ORS), up from 88.8% last fiscal year, while treatment with IV fluid decreased from 7% to 5%.

The death rate per 1000 among under -five children due to diarrhoea remained constant at 0.07.The ability of health workers to identity dehydration classifications improved following reactivation of CDD activities throughout the country. Records note an increase in "no - dehydration", decrease in the "some-dehydration"and in the "severe-dehydration" classifications.

ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTION (AR I)
The ARI Control Programme covers 75 districts, fourteen of which have a special strengthening programme. The major activity conducted this fiscal year was ARI case management training for health workers, including Community Health Workers (CHWs). Nevertheless, there was an increase in total new ARI cases over last fiscal year from 555,013 to 724,213 and the incidence per 1,000 children under age five increased from 166 to 210. The percentage of new treated with antibiotics decreased from 41.5% to 41.0%.

The proportion of new cases of "severe pneumonia" slightly decreased last year, while, reported cases of ARI are increasing every year, probably due to the community's increased accessibility to ARI- related health services. In fourteen ARI strengthening districts ,CHWs treated more pneumonia cases then health workers treated in health facilities. Although "pneumonia" and "severe pneumonia" cases have decreased over the last fiscal year, the death rate due to pneumonia has slightly decreased.