Raghu Dhital

Raghu Dhital is the Executive Director of BNMT Nepal. Raghu has worked in community based public health with BNMT for twenty years and has diverse experience across multiple sectors, including infectious diseases control programmes, WASH and disaster response and recovery. He has a strong passion for working with communities to identify priorities and facilitate solutions together. Throughout his career, he has worked in partnership with government health services and NGO networks to augment existing services and contribute to the development of Nepal.

His main responsibilities are to oversee the overall activities of BNMT; develop strategies, plans and activities for the all the programs of BNMT; establish good coordination and collaboration with government authorities, District Health Offices, NGO partners and advocates and facilitate the successful implementation of Tuberculosis Control Program.

Before taking this role, Raghu served as the Deputy director of BNMT. He previously worked as Project Manager for IMPACT TB phase I from 2017-2019. He was involved in Britain Nepal Medical Trust as a TB REACH Project Manager from February 2012 to June 2014 and has successfully implemented TB REACH WAVE- 2 project in Nepal. He has also been involved in Active Case Finding through systematic mobilization of community health volunteers including initiation of microscopic camps in hard to reach areas of Nepal.

Dr. Maxine Caws

Max Caws is the Principal Investigator of IMPACT TB and a senior TB researcher at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. She was Head of the TB group at Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Vietnam for 11 years and researches diverse aspects of TB including drug resistance, diagnosis, clinical treatment trials, bacterial virulence and host susceptibility determinants. She is currently based in Kathmandu, Nepal. She has a BSc in biochemistry from the University of St Andrews, a PHD in medical microbiology from King’s College, London, where her thesis topic was tuberculous meningitis, and an MSC in epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Laxmi Prasad Dahal

Laxmi Prasad Dahal is Chief Finance Officer of BNMT Nepal based on head office Kathmandu. He is responsible for overseeing the finances and accounting operations, financial planning and management of BNMT Nepal. He has worked at Birat Nepal Medical Trust, Nepal since January 2017. He earned his Masters’ degree in Commerce at Nepal Commerce Campus Kathmandu. He has over 15 years’ of professional experience in finance, accounts, taxation and audit matters.

Similarly, he worked in The Britain Nepal Medical Trust in Nepal with different capacities from July 2006 to December 2016.

Saki Thapa

Saki Thapa serves as the Advocacy, Networking, and Resource Mobilization Manager at BNMT Nepal. With a strong focus on project designing and grants application, she has demonstrated remarkable success in securing funds for numerous impactful initiatives. Notable among these are Health Link funded by UK aids, Enhancing Community Health funded by the Big Lottery Fund, Health Facilities Reconstruction and Health Service Strengthening I & II funded by AmeriCares, TB REACH Wave 5, Adolescents SRHR project funded by AmplifyChange, Project Horizon funded by BNMT UK, as well as the Global Fund projects 2017-2018 and 2018 to 2021. She has also contributed writing the projects – SUSTAIN: Emergency support and Sustenance to communities affected by crisis funded by AmeriCares, and COVID Kurakani, a supplement of COVID gene sequencing project, Epidemic Intelligence.

With an MSc in Public Health from the esteemed Berlin School of Public Health, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany, Saki has taken the lead in successfully implementing three Sexual and Reproductive health and Rights projects (AmplifyChange, Butterfly, Project Horizon) in rural Sindhupalchowk, Nepal. She has also spearheaded the Research, Evidence and Development Initiative (READ-It) project, focusing on evidence synthesis tailored to national gaps; and the Breaking the Stigma project, which explores the feasibility and acceptability of self-sampling for HPV as an alternative method for cervical cancer screening. Additionally, Saki holds a master’s degree in Health Care Management from Pokhara University, Nepal.

As a valuable member of the senior management team, Saki has played a key role in the development of organizational policies, policy briefs, project briefs, reports, storybooks, and IEC/BCC materials. She has also contributed significantly to the strategic planning of BNMT, shaping the organization’s vision and direction in the strategic plan for 2020-2025.

Rajesh Parajuli

Rajesh Parajuli is the Human Resource and Administration Manager of BNMT Nepal since July 2014. Before this, he has worked with the Britain Nepal Medical Trust since April 1994 at various sections in different capacities. Now, he is a member of Senior Management Team of BNMT Nepal. He is responsible for overall human resources management and administrative management of the organization including overseeing of hiring, retention, termination, personnel records, performance appraisal, legal compliance, compensation, benefits, development of policies and long-term staffing strategies, and day-to-day administrative, logistics and procurement management. He is also focal person for coordinating with the government authorities and other stakeholders.

Rajesh has a Masters Degree in social science from Tribhuvan University and obtained various professional courses at national level and international level. He has successfully represented the organization in different national and international level meeting, workshops and seminars.

Dr. Kritika Dixit

Kritika Dixit is a Research Manager at BNMT with experience of over eight years in infectious diseases, mental health, and reproductive and sexual health. Her main area of interest is the social and structural determinants of health and the design and evaluation of socioeconomic interventions to tackle these factors. Ms Dixit led research projects that mainly involve exploring barriers to healthcare access especially in rural areas and to provide evidence to inform patient-centric healthcare models to improve equity in communities. More recently, she led the research implementation in the projects supported by the European Union, the Wellcome Trust, UK, and the Stop TB partnership which aim to increase tuberculosis case diagnosis in Nepal and to develop a locally appropriate socioeconomic support package for TB affected households. She holds a master’s degree in Global Health from Thammasat University, Thailand, and is a current PhD student at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. Ms Dixit is a Farrar Foundation fellow and is also a recipient of early-career research grant from the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) as well as travel scholarships from the RSTMH and the TB Modelling and Analysis Consortium, UK.

Soma Rai

Soma is a HR and Admin Officer at Birat Nepal Medical Trust (BNMT) and Project Administrator for the IMPACT TB Project. She has been working at BNMT for the past 6 years and has over 15 years of experience in this field.

Bibha Dhungel

Bibha, an MBA graduate and passionate advocate for public engagement in health and science, leads the public engagement department at Birat Nepal Medical Trust since 2019. She also works as one of the Associate Festival Directors for the Global South Arts and Health Week, being held in Egypt in September 2023.

She has spearheaded diverse projects in BNMT, collaborating with communities, stakeholders, artists, and creative professionals, focusing on COVID-19, tuberculosis, and menstrual hygiene management. Notable projects include COVID animations, TB day activities with folk song and dance, community perspectives videos, Mithila art-themed TB murals, and project video summaries. She co-designed and led the ‘COVID Kurakani’ project, featuring televised panel discussions on pathogen sequencing. Additionally, she successfully organized the ‘Lead like a Woman’ national conference, empowering students to learn about leadership and overcome barriers. With 8 years of experience, Bibha leads the organization branding, managing all the organization owned digital media (websites/social media accounts), and diverse publications including the annual report, policy briefs and research summaries.

She has also contributed in writing successful grants for the organization including, COVID Kurakani (conversations), SUSTAIN series (1- 5), AmplifyChange and TB REACH and Global Fund. She engages in developing various reports and documentation, as well as monitoring and evaluation functions.

She is a talented singer and her interests include singing, dancing and art, with a particular interest in traditional Nepali music and dance forms.

Bhola Rai

Bhola Rai is a Grant Research Officer at BNMT Nepal’s head office in Kathmandu. Previously, he served as Project Manager in Makwanpur district, where he successfully led the Addressing the Social Determinants and Consequences of Tuberculosis in Nepal (ASCOT) project. This initiative, integrated within the IMPACT TB project, evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of socioeconomic support interventions for TB-affected households in Nepal.

Bhola contributed as a Research Associate for four years, working on the IMPACT TB project funded by the EU Horizon 2020 and the Seed Award project supported by the Wellcome Trust. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health and is currently completing a part-time Master’s degree in Public Health Administration from Tribhuvan University.

With over seven years of experience in infectious disease research, Bhola specializes in data collection, management, and analysis. He is also the recipient of an early-career research grant from the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

An accomplished researcher, Bhola has authored more than 20 publications in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals. His previous roles include serving as a Public Relations Officer at the Travel and Mountain Medicine Center in Kathmandu, a Team Leader for the Nepal Nutrition Intervention Project in Sarlahi (in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health), and working with Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh.

Manoj Kumar Sah

Dr. Manoj Kumar Sah serves as the Provincial Program Coordinator in Mahottari District,
where he oversees the planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of health
initiatives, including IMPACT TB 2. He also supports key projects such as CHANGE TB,
Accelerate Zero Leprosy, Nourish, Transform TB, and TB Vaccine in the district. His primary
focus is on implementing IMPACT TB project activities and facilitating research within the
district.
Manoj holds a Master’s degree in Sociology, a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery
(BAMS), a Bachelor’s degree in Education specializing in Health, and a Certificate in General
Medicine.
He has extensive experience in public health, including coordination and management of district-
level health programs in areas such as reproductive health (RH), community-based newborn care
and child health (CB-NCP/IMCI and CB-IMNCI), nutrition, and HIV/AIDS. His expertise
extends to health system strengthening, inventory and logistics management, as well as providing
supportive supervision and monitoring of program activities.
Manoj diverse qualifications and experience highlight his commitment to improving public
health systems and delivering impactful health interventions in Nepal.

Gyanendra Shrestha

Gyanendra Shrestha is the Project Manager for the Epidemic Intelligence project and Eastern Regional Manager. He is an experienced public health professional and project leader, starting as a Statistical officer for Government of Nepal in the year 1997, and later joining BNMT as a drug scheme In-charge, progressing as a district programme coordinator and project manager. He has a deep understanding of the implementation and factors driving successful delivery of community based public health programmes in Nepal. He is responsible for ensuring successful implementation of project; establishing good coordination and networking with project partners, government authorities, major hospitals, health offices, and other development partners.

Gyanendra holds a double master’s degree in Public administration and Population and Rural Development.

Swastika Shrestha

“Dr. Swastika Shrestha is a research associate at BNMT, where she initially joined as a research officer for the ‘Breaking the Stigma’ project. In this role, she was responsible for data collection and publishing an article based on the research findings. She later took the lead in drafting and managing research projects, including the Butterfly Project and the Assessing Challenges in Epilepsy (ACE) project. Her research proposal to explore the lived experiences of individuals with epilepsy in Nepal (ACE project) was awarded the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH) Early career researcher (ECR) award in 2022. Additionally, she worked as the monitoring and evaluation officer for the large-scale Epidemic Intelligence Project, one of BNMT’s major consortium initiatives. Dr. Shrestha remains actively engaged in a range of research activities at BNMT, including grant writing, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and manuscript preparation. Her areas of interest in research revolve around exploring various social determinants of health via qualitative and quantitative research methods. She enjoys working with and learning from people from different walks of life.”

Dipendra Panday

Dipendra Panday serves as the Provincial Program Coordinator based in Banke District,
Nepal. In this role, he oversees the planning, coordination, implementation, and
monitoring of various health initiatives, including the Epidemic Intelligence Project,
IMPACT TB 2, Target TB, TB Recovery Project, and provides support to projects like
CHANGE TB, Accelerate Zero Leprosy, Nourish, Transform TB, and TB Vaccine.
Previously, Dipendra worked with BNMT as the District Coordinator for several
impactful projects, including the ‘Enhancing Community Health in Nepal’ project funded
by the Big Lottery Fund and the ‘National TB Program’ supported by the Global
Fund/Save the Children.
Dipendra holds a Community Medicine Auxiliary (CMA) qualification and a Health
Assistant (HA) diploma from the Council for Technical Education and Vocational
Training (CTEVT). He has also earned a Bachelor of Public Health (BPH) from
Tribhuvan University.
He has received extensive training in diverse areas such as CB-IMNCI, IMAM, TB
Modular, Master Training of Trainers (MToT) on Golden Thousand Days, TB
Management e-TB, DHIS-2, M-health, and life skills. These qualifications and
experiences highlight his expertise and dedication to improving public health outcomes in
Nepal.

Sudip Paudel

Sudip Paudel is the Project Officer working in the RESPOND II project, funded by Americares. Based in Rolpa district, he works closely with the team at the regional office in Banke. Sudip holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Health and a diploma in Health Assistance. His experience includes working with several organizations such as the Health Directorate Office in Lumbini Province, One Heart Worldwide, New Era, Intrepid Nepal/CMDN/JANTRA, Prakash Awareness Group, and Chitwan Hospital Pvt. Ltd. With over six years of experience in public health and clinical fields, Sudip brings extensive knowledge and expertise to his role.

Amit Kumar Mishra

Amit Kumar Mishra is currently serving as a Field Supervisor for the CRITIC Project. He is a certified Medical Assistant (CMA) from CTEVT and brings two years of experience as an Auxiliary Health Worker at Chhipagadh Health Post in Rupandehi. Amit has also contributed his expertise as a Social Mobilizer for the National Tuberculosis Program – Support Program at Kapilvastu Integrated Development Services (KIDS), a project funded by the Global Fund, from March 2019 to July 2024. His dedication to improving healthcare services and community mobilization is reflected in his extensive field experience.

Anchal Thapa

Ms. Anchal Thapa currently serves as Deputy Research Manager at BNMT’s head office in Kathmandu. Over her three-year tenure at BNMT, she has contributed across various roles, initially joining as a Consultant Health Economist for the IMPACT TB project under the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). Ms. Thapa holds an MSc in Health Economics and Health Policy from the University of Birmingham, UK, along with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health from Nobel College (Pokhara University). As a driven and emerging researcher, she is dedicated to advancing her expertise in health economics through designing and conducting economic evaluations alongside diverse implementation research. In 2022, Ms. Thapa was awarded the prestigious Early Career Research Grant by the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH), where she led an evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of using drones for transporting sputum samples for TB case detection in Pyuthan. She has significant experience in analyzing patient cost surveys and was instrumental in the data analysis and reporting for Nepal’s first National Tuberculosis Patient Cost Survey. Currently, Ms. Thapa is engaged in the economic evaluation of a randomized controlled trial as part of the ACT South Asia Trial, led by the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) Nepal. This study assesses the effectiveness of Azithromycin and Cefixime versus Azithromycin alone in treating clinically suspected or confirmed uncomplicated typhoid fever in South Asia.

Ashok Thakur

Mr. Ashok Thakur is a dedicated finance professional residing in Dharan Metropolitan City, Ward No. 8, Sunsari District, Koshi Province. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Mahendra Multiple Campus, Dharan.
Since February 1, 2017, Ashok has been serving as the Finance and Admin Officer at Birat Nepal Medical Trust (BNMT-Nepal) in the Regional Office, Biratnagar. In this role, he focuses on financial planning, monitoring, and reporting, playing a crucial part in managing financial and administrative operations in the region. His commitment to ensuring efficiency in financial processes supports the organization’s mission and goals.
With over 14 years of experience in finance, Ashok has previously worked with the Britain Nepal Medical Trust as a Finance Officer. He has also held positions as a Finance and Admin Officer at NNDSWO for seven months and as an Assistant Finance and Admin Officer with IM Swedish Development Partner for two years. His extensive experience contributes significantly to the success and efficiency of the organizations he has worked with.

Asmita Rayamajhi

Asmita Rayamajhi is currently serving as a Data Management Officer for the CRITIC Project, funded by The Union, based at the Cluster Office in Bhairahawa. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health and a Diploma in Health Assistant. Throughout her education, Asmita developed a strong interest in fieldwork and gained practical experience, working as a Social Mobilizer in Dolakha District during the Nepal Earthquake under the Nepal Public Health Foundation’s SAHAS Project. She also worked as a Field Researcher for Ipas in Dadeldhura District. During her Public Health studies, Asmita had the opportunity to work in the communities of Okhaldhunga District and with the Health Office in Ramechhap District as part of her curriculum.
After completing her graduation, Asmita expanded her expertise as a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for the Sexual and Reproductive Health Project with the Public Health Research Society Nepal (PHRSN) in Kathmandu. In October 2022, she joined Kapilvastu Integrated Development Services (KIDS) as a District Program Coordinator for the National Tuberculosis Program, funded by Save the Children and the Global Fund. Asmita’s diverse experience in public health research, TB and program coordination continues to contribute significantly to the success of the projects she is involved in.

Bhumika Sen

Bhumika Sen is a Lab Assistant for the CRITIC project at the Health Office of West, Nawalparasi. She brings 5 years of experience as a Lab Technician and is a registered professional with the Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC). Her expertise in laboratory operations plays a key role in supporting the success of the CRITIC project and healthcare initiatives in the region.

Rajesh Kumar Harijan

Rajesh Kumar Harijan is a Field Supervisor for the CRITIC project at the Health Office, West, Nawalparasi. With a strong background in health-related projects, Rajesh has served in various roles, including as a Vaccinator at Makar Health Post and as a Social Mobilizer in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health within Sarawal Rural Municipality, West Nawalparasi. He has also worked as a Social Mobilizer for the Tuberculosis Control Program under Kapilvastu Integrated Development Service (KIDS) in West Nawalparasi, supported by Save the Children and the Global Fund. Additionally, Rajesh is a certified Medical Assistant (CMA), contributing his expertise to the success of the CRITIC project and other community health initiatives.

Bivechana Pandey

Bivechana Pandey is the Project Coordinator for the CRITIC Project at the Cluster Office in Bhairahawa. She is an experienced public health professional with a Master’s degree in Rural Development. During her studies in Public Health, Bivechana had the opportunity to work with communities in Lamjung District and the Health Office of Nuwakot District as part of her curriculum.
She also volunteered with VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) as part of a UK Volunteers program in Jharuwarashi, Lalitpur District. Although her time there was cut short due to the earthquake, she remained for two months before returning home. Following the earthquake, she contributed to the International Medical Corps (IMC) as a Public Health Promoter (Volunteer).
After completing her graduation, Bivechana joined Kapilvastu Integrated Development Services (KIDS) on February 11, 2016, as a District Project Officer for the Women’s Health Project Phase-IV in Nawalparasi District, supported by PSI International. Her passion for Tuberculosis led her to transition to the National Tuberculosis Program at KIDS, a program supported by Save the Children and the Global Fund. Her extensive experience in public health continues to make a significant impact on the projects she leads.

Binita Tharu

Binita Tharu is the Administrative and Logistic Assistant for the CRITIC Project at Birat Nepal Medical Trust (BNMT) in the Regional Office, Nepalgunj, Banke, since September 1, 2024. She holds a Master’s degree in Business Studies from Tribhuvan University. Prior to joining BNMT, Binita worked for five years at Radio Krishnasar FM in Nepalgunj, where she handled administration, finance, accounts, and taxation. Binita has a keen interest in learning new skills across various fields, which contributes to her versatility and dedication in her current role.

Dipendra Barai

Dipendra Barai is an Assistant Radiographer for the CRITIC project. He completed his studies at Kailpal Hospital and College, Nepalgunj, earning a degree in Radiography Technician along with an NHPC license. Dipendra has received on-the-job training at Nepalgunj Medical College and Bheri Zonal Hospital in Banke. He has gained valuable experience in various radiology fields, including X-Ray, CT-Scan, OPG, and MRI, contributing his expertise to the CRITIC project.

Kiran Chaudhary

Kiran Chaudhary is an Assistant Radiographer for the CRITIC project in West Nawalparasi. He completed his studies at Kailpal Hospital and College, Nepalgunj, earning a degree as a Radiography Technician with an NHPC license. Kiran underwent on-the-job training for three months at Nepalgunj Medical College and another three months at Bheri Zonal Hospital, Banke.
He completed a three-year radiography course, which included six months of job training. Kiran has extensive experience in radiology, including X-ray, CT-Scan, OPG, and MRI. Additionally, he worked for six months at City Hospital in Dhangadhi, Kailali, and at the Central Diagnosis Center, Dhangadhi Hospital. His diverse experience in the field enhances his contributions to the CRITIC project.

Ojedda Nisha

Ojedda Nisha is a Lab Assistant for the CRITIC project at the Health Office in West Nawalparasi. She has previously worked as a Lab Assistant at Unique Polyclinic in Butwal, Rupandehi. Ojedda holds a Certificate in Medical Laboratory Technician (CMLT) and is licensed by the Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC). Her expertise in laboratory services supports her role in the CRITIC project, contributing to its success in the region.

Rajkumar Chaudhary

Rajkumar Chaudhary is the Field Supervisor for the ACCELERATE ZERO LEPROSY Project in Banke District, Nepal. In this role, he is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing community-based activities for the CHANGE TB project within the district. Rajkumar has extensive experience working at BNMT Nepal, where he served as a Community Health Supervisor and, for a brief period, as the District Program Assistant for the TB REACH Project from 2017 to 2020. Following this, he worked with the IMPACT TB Project from 2021 to 2023.
Rajkumar has received several specialized training programs, including TB Modular, Economic Evaluation of TB Active Case Finding in Nepal, Research Ethics and Informed Consent, Introductory English Course, and Basic Leprosy Training (BLT). He has completed his Intermediate education and has a strong passion for social work, which motivates his commitment to improving public health outcomes in his community.

Ram Prasad Koirala

Mr. Ram Prasad Koirala is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience working with Birat Nepal Medical Trust (BNMT) in various capacities at the regional and district levels. Based in Biratnagar Metropolitan City, Ward No. 11, Morang District, in Koshi Province, he has played a pivotal role in the planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and training of both BNMT and government staff for a wide range of projects and programs.
Throughout his career with BNMT, Mr. Koirala has been involved in numerous projects, including the Global Fund-supported TB project in collaboration with Save the Children, the Health Improvement Project, the Rights-Based Health and Community Health and Development Project, the WHO-supported TB REACH Project, the Epidemic Intelligence Project during the COVID-19 pandemic, the NOURISH Project, and the CHANGE TB Project.
He holds a bachelor’s degree and has completed several national and international short courses to enhance his expertise. These include a 16-week course on “Gender and Development” from Swansea University in the UK, a 12-month course on “Bachelor in Health and Development” from Jamkhed, India, and a 2-month training on “Participatory Community Health and Development” from CTEVT, Kathmandu. Additionally, he has attended various specialized trainings, including Basic TB Modular, Refresher TB Modular, VCT, and Research Ethics training during his tenure with BNMT Nepal.
Currently, Mr. Koirala is responsible for implementing the CHANGE TB and NOURISH projects, overseeing planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and training relevant personnel based at the Regional Office in Biratnagar for Koshi Province. His extensive experience and dedication continue to make a significant impact on the success of these programs.

Dawa Rinji Sherpa

Dawa Rinji Sherpa serves as a Finance Officer at BNMT Nepal, where he has been contributing since 2015. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management from Himalayan College of Management.

With a strong commitment to professional development, Dawa is passionate about exploring new challenges and expanding his skill set. His interests include reading books, watching movies, participating in training programs, and embracing opportunities for continuous growth. Dawa’s dedication and curiosity drive his valuable contributions to the organization.