MECEE-BL Health and General Knowledge: Nepal's programmes and first aid
What the health and GK paper tests
This section combines Nepal's health system and public-health priorities with general knowledge: national programmes, communicable and non-communicable diseases, nutrition, maternal and child health, first aid, population, geography and current health-related developments. Expect factual recall tied to Nepal's federal structure: federal Ministry of Health and Population, provincial health directorates and local-level health sections.
Core rules
- Nepal's immunization schedule includes BCG and hepatitis B at birth; pentavalent, polio and pneumococcal vaccines in infancy; measles-rubella at 9 and 15 months; and JE vaccine in endemic districts.
- ORS treats dehydration; zinc is given for 10–14 days in childhood diarrhoea.
- Tuberculosis is diagnosed through sputum microscopy, GeneXpert and chest X-ray; DOTS treatment must be completed.
- Dengue is transmitted by Aedes aegypti, malaria by Anopheles mosquitoes; breeding-site control differs.
- First aid for a burn: cool with running water for about 20 minutes, remove tight items, cover cleanly; do not apply ice, butter or toothpaste.
- Health insurance in Nepal is run through the Health Insurance Board; local governments manage basic health services.
Worked example
A 2-year-old in a hill district has acute watery diarrhoea, sunken eyes and slow skin pinch. This is some dehydration. The reasoning: acute watery diarrhoea causes water and electrolyte loss; sunken eyes and slow skin pinch indicate dehydration beyond plain thirst. Management is ORS for rehydration, zinc for 10–14 days, continued feeding, and referral if lethargy, persistent vomiting or blood in stool appears. Antibiotics are not routine for simple watery diarrhoea.
Traps
Do not confuse dengue with malaria because both cause fever; look for mosquito type and platelet/bleeding clues. Do not give ORS only without zinc in childhood diarrhoea. Do not apply ice to burns. In GK, distinguish national programmes from provincial responsibilities. Check whether a question asks about Nepal or global figures.