Kathmandu, Oct. 5 -- Nepal is set to contest the leadership role of the World Health Organisation's South-East Asia Regional Office, as the top post of the UN regional health body has been left vacant following the resignation of Saima Wazed on September 9.

A senior official at the Ministry of Health and Health and Food Safety said that the government has decided to nominate Dr Sangeeta Kaushal Mishra, an additional secretary at the ministry, as Nepal's candidate for the post.

"Yes, Dr Mishra is Nepal's candidate for WHO SEARO chief, and the government has already started lobbying member countries for support," the official told the Post on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media. "The government w...