Contributing Towards Creating Safer Communities to Fight Against the Pandemic

June 26, 2020
Dipendra Lamsal
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We all are aware of the fact that COVID-19 has affected health care system all around the world. Till now (by 25th June 2020), around 500,000 deaths and 9 million people have been affected by the virus worldwide. In Nepal alone, 26 deaths and around 11 thousand people are found to be Corona positive and this number has been multiplying uncontrollably since the last 2 months. Nepal government and development organizations have joined hands against the pandemic to create safe environment for the people.

*Health kit and PPE, being handed to Chandragiri Municipality in Kathmandu.*

Nepal as a developing nation has always struggled to provide good health amenities to its people. But 2020 COVID-19 led heath care scenario of Nepal from bad to worse. Though the world is eagerly awaiting vaccine breakthrough to end this virus, however in the mean time, people have no options left than to protect themselves from it.
As Nepal government partially lifted the lockdown few weeks ago, people started getting back to their daily life activities. People unwillingly accepted this new life, life with Corona following safety measures and workplace protocol provided by government which mainly focused on social distancing and safety measures. Though lifting lock-down to some extent eased people’s monetary and other problems, but on the contrary, increased the number of corona positive in the matter of few weeks time.

Therefore, considering the situation and urgency, CN has initiated a response project partnering with CRS-Catholic Relief Services), to support COVID-19 vulnerable areas in Palpa district. For this, teams has already been mobilized for implementing project activities. The project activities mainly included installation of hand washing booths.

Caritas Nepal team and mayor of Tansen Municipality, Palpa inaugurating the Hand free hand washing station installed in front of Municipality office under the COVID -19 Response Program. Similar hand washing platforms are being constructed in all public places, quarantine centers, health posts and hospitals of Palpa.

Regular hand washing is not a very common practice in rural areas in Nepal as rural people prefer plain water or ash over soap to wash hands. So to fill in this gap, installation of hand washing booths in various part of Palpa. The project not only aims to prevent from COVID-19 widespread but at the same time, develop hand-washing habit in the community people that will eventually lead to healthy life.

Activities such as installation of hoarding boards and distribution of health kits were also conducted. Hoarding boards with awareness and preventives measures are installed in 50 prominent locations. Motivating awareness message about accepting new normal life with Corona are being circulated through the hoarding boards.

For coping with shortage and scarcity of PPE for the health personnel and people staying in quarantine centers of Bara and Rupandhehi district, we contributed on strengthening health care system by supporting PPE, hygiene kits and other essential tools for the health workers and people of 47 quarantine centers of Bara and Rupandehi district.

Around 1100 people staying in quarantine are now privileged with proper hygiene and sanitation facility.

Our fundamental priority of today is to facilitate hygienic lifestyle through improved WASH facility through humanitarian response to COVID-19.

Health kits consisting sanitizer, gloves, masks and sprays are also being distributed. CN specialized teams doing their best to reach the most vulnerable in every possible way.
During this difficult time of global threat, CN would like to appeal all the stakeholders to work in solidarity to fight against this common global enemy and be hopeful on wining this battle against COVID-19.

Through the initiation of our board member we also distributed food relief package to the most marginalized and vulnerable 200 families of Godawori municipality to overcome in this crisis. Households mostly were depending on daily wages for living and are facing challenges due to this nationwide shut down. People involving in unorganized employment had to loose their job making them hard to sustain their life.