Bioethics Day celebrated with theme 'Protection of Environment, Biosphere & Biodiversity’

Dharan. With the theme of 'Protection of Environment, the Biosphere & Biodiversity’ (Article 17 of Universal declaration of Bioethics and Human rights), various competitive events have been organized in last month among health science students of various institutes of Nepal on the occasion of World Bioethics day (October 19).

The day of this year 2025 has been celebrated drawing the attention towards the importance of protection of Environment, Biosphere & Biodiversity. A concluding ceremony of various awareness programs has been held by Nepal Unit of Bioethics in October 31 in BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan. 

The program chaired by Nepal Head of the Unit Prof. Dr. Dhana Ratna Shakya was conducted by students Anisha Giri and Christina Rai. In the keynote, Prof. Dr. Dhana Ratna Shakya urged every one to play their respective roles and do advocacy for this as it is essential for human existence, well-being and development.

Various aspects of the theme have been highlighted; health science and academic perspective by Prof. Dr. Sarun Koirala, Dental health perspective by Dr. Ashok Ayer and public and legal perspective by Khem Subedi. Student member of the wing of Bioethics, BPKIHS, Samip Ghimire presented on the theme.   

This year, in photography evaluated by Prof. Dr. Ravi Shrestha, Prof. Dr. Sarun Koirala and Dr. Ashok Ayer, Miss Suraja Shakya, Miss Sampada Dhimal and Sudin Bhusal were the winners. In Art poster judged by Prof. Dr. Ravi Shrestha, Dr. Ashok Ayer and Dr. Kishor Gurung, the winners were Ujjwal Thakur and Miss Suraja Shakya.

Prashant Sapkota was the winner in Science poster evaluated by Prof. Dr. Dhana Ratna Shakya and  Prof. Dr. Ravi Shrestha; and Jiban Bhujel in poem competition evaluated by Prof. Dr. Dhana Ratna Shakya,  Prof. Dr. Sarun Koirala and Dr. Kishor Gurung. 

Coordinator of the Nepal program, Head of the Unit and Department of Psychiatry, BPKIHS, Prof. Dhana Ratna Shakya expressed the need of more programs to foster discussion, discourse, training and research in bioethical issues.

Nepal joined the global network of Bioethics in 2013 and the day has been celebrated since 2016. International chair in Bioethics has been emphasizing on the importance of teaching, training and research on Bioethics.