Nepal
is a small landlocked country of 29 million people. It remained isolated
until the middle of the twentieth century and still remains behind the rest
of the world in basic parameters of development including health care.
Nepal has one of the worst physician to population ratios in the world,
dismal health indicators like life expectancy, infant mortality rates and
the wide prevalence of infectious diseases with very poor medical
infrastructure in the country. The scourge of other diseases like pulmonary
and cardiovascular diseases and cancer is ever increasing.
According to the
International Labor Organization, "Nepal is the world's 12th poorest
country, with an annual per capita of $241, the lowest in the South Asian
region."
For detailed information on Nepal, please see the following links:
Asian Development Bank
CIA - The World Fact Book
Library of Congress
UNICEF
United States
Department of State
Wikipedia