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The burden of non-communicable diseases is growing and countries are committed to combat this and achieve the sustainable development goals and targets. Non-communicable diseases are complex conditions attributed by multiple behavioural risk factors and without understanding the whole ecosystem of such diseases, it is difficult to determine the global goals and targets for them and to take action to address them. Countries are trying to take the multi-sectoral approach in addressing the non-communicable diseases and often encounter challenges in operationalizing the approach. Therefore, it is essential to nuance the multi-sectoral approach to non-communicable diseases in order to better inform application to achieving the sustainable development goals for which multisectoral approach is imperative. Keywords: multi-sectoral; non-communicable diseases; risk factors; sustainable development goals.

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis causes high morbidity and mortality of newborns. The study aims to study the predictors and clinical, haematological and bacteriological factors of neonatal sepsis., Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital in Kathmandu between October and December 2011. Demographic, obstetrics, clinical and microbiological data were studied for 300 neonates., Results: The NICU prevalence rate of sepsis was 37.12%. Early onset neonatal sepsis was common (91.39%) (P=0.000). Cesarean section (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.15-3.31), apgar score<4 at 1 min (P=0.00) and <7 at 5 min of birth (P=0.00) predicted sepsis. Neonates with sepsis were more likely to present with hypothermia (OR 1.180, 95% CI 0.080-17.214), pustules (OR 2.188, 95% CI 0.110-43.465), dehydration (OR 3.040, 95% CI 0.170-54.361), diminished movement (OR 3.082, 95% CI 0.433-21.950) and bulging fontanels (OR 16.464, 95% CI 0.007-41495.430). Coagulase negative Staphylococcus spp. (CoNS) (21, 41.17%) was most common pathogen of neonatal sepsis. Variable antibiotic resistance patterns of isolates with emergence of meropenem resistance in Pseudomonas spp. and methicillin resistance in CoNS and S. aurues were noted. Mortality due to sepsis was highest (15, 8.06%) among total mortalities (21, 11.29%)., Conclusions: Delivery via cesarian section, apgar score<4 at 1 min, and <7 at 5 min predicted sepsis. Morbidity and mortality of neonatal sepsis was common in this setting and early maternal and neonatal interventions are required to address this issue.