Volunter Corps Nepal

Website Facebook

NEPAL HIGHLIGHTS

  • Nepal has entered the second stage of coronavirus transmission as the first locally transmitted case has been identified in the Far Western Region on 4th April, 2020.
  • The country lock-down started on 24th March, 2020 continues until 15th April, 2020.
  • The flights are suspended until 30th April, 2020.
  • Expansion of laboratory service: In addition to National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Teku, lab test through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) has started and is functional in 13 institutions of all seven Provinces (in 52 out of 77 districts) through Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT)
  • Patients of chronic ailments cannot afford to avoid hospitals, but they’re afraid of catching COVID-19. Fears have been exacerbated by news that healthcare workers are forced to work without proper protection, which puts them and patients both at risk of infection.
  • The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has introduced a new app “Hamro Swasthya”, which provides all the updated information on COVID-19 to public, offers possibility of self-assessment by individuals on the symptoms, and helps relevant authorities to act fast when cases in red zone are identified. So far, 15,687 people have self-assessed using this app and the Ministry’s web portal, of which, 219 are in red zone. The government has started contacting them for further test.
  • Nepal looks at its tough times ahead as World Bank predicts a growth rate between 1.5 and 2.8 per cent. The government had targeted a growth rate of 8.5 per cent for this fiscal year; however, the pandemic and the ensuing lockdown have adversely affected the target.
  • Central Bank announces relief measures for businesses affected by COVID-19. Nepal Rastra Bank has rescheduled loan repayments and will prioritize refinance facilities for small and medium-scale industries.
  • The Supreme Court has issued an interim order to the government, telling it to repatriate Nepalese facing hardship in meeting their basic needs abroad in the wake of the global coronavirus crisis.

VOLUNTEER CORPS NEPAL (VCN) HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

VCN is responding in COVID-19 crisis through different channels before and during lockdown in Nepal:

  • 400 HHS benefitted by food distribution in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Sarlahi, Gorkha districts and over 3,100 people benefitted from cooked meal in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts.
  • IEC materials disseminated and awareness campaign through volunteer groups in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Sindupalchowk, Itahari, Saptari, Sarlahi, Dhanusha, Parsa, Tanahaun, Gorkha and Nepalgunj for public awareness to use sanitizers and steps in hand-washing.
  • Over 9,000 volunteers connected in Corona-Emergency Response Center from all over Nepal and overseas and shearing corona information publicly and combating fake news nationally.
  • Roster 50 medical doctors in partner with Nepal Medical Association-Junior Doctor Council with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for immediate volunteer deployment in emergency alert.
  • 20 volunteer health workers mobilized for Psychosocial counseling in Province 2.
  • 2 COVID19 testing booth (1 - Bir Hospital, 1 - Janakpur Provincial Hospital).

VCN IN COVERAGE

VCN Press Release – VCN released Appeal Letter from social media and website after the country lockdown for immediate respond in COVID-19 response in Nepal.

VCN Social Media – Facebook and Instagram account of VCN to raise awareness on COVID-19 through celebrities’ videos, awareness info graphics and audio messages.

VCN in News – Work highlighted in Aapan TV, Janata Television, Capital FM, Newspapers and online.