'Homeschooling' for the children as Nepal is 'Locked down' until 18th May '20 to help reduce the spread of the Coronavirus!
The Nestling Trust remembers with sadness the many thousands who lost their lives during the Nepal Earthquake 2015, exactly five years ago today.
As dawn broke today, Sitara General Secretary Chuda and TNT director Subash Shiwakoti travelled under special licence from Kathmandu to the mountainous region of Dolakha. Despite the 'lockdown' all over Nepal, permission had been grated for them to take much needed supplies of PPE and medical equipment to the Melung Health Post and to two District Public Health Centres. Each Health Post established by TNT as well as the two district public health centres now have equipment to help reduce the spread of the Corinavirus. All the supplies and delivery costs have been funded by the TNT who have also provided soap to be distributed to the villagers.
Finally after weeks trying to locate essential medical items such as masks, gloves, aprons and thermal gun thermometers etc Sitara, our partner NGO organised delivery to four of our five Health Posts today with a further delivery planned on Thursday to Lapilang Health Post and the District Health Office medical staff.
In these exceptional times with the Covid-19 virus spreading so rapidly around the world, it is hard to find such equipment, even in developed countries, so we can understand the difficulties Sitara has faced in gathering these items and also for arranging the transportation despite the 'lockdown' in Nepal. In particular finding infrared thermal gun thermometers, vital in trying to identifying those likely to be suffering from the virus has proved to be almost impossible with stocks in the country having been bought up by a syndicate for sale on the black market. Police arrested the perpetrators and confiscated the thermometers. After days of contacting different suppliers and hours of negotiations Sitara has finally secured ten.The Nestling Trust thanks SItara most sincerely for their commitment and determination. Thank you also to our loyal supporters - without you this would not be possible. TNT has funded essential items for helping reduce the spread of the Corinavirus Covid-19 in Nepal. Sitara our partner NGO arranged delivery to four Health Posts and a remote District Health Centre today, and a further delivery to the 5th Health Post in Lapilang and another District Health Centre is planned for Thursday. Prior to this delivery all the medical facilities were desperately short of masks, aprons, gloves and had no infrared thermometers. At the time of such worldwide shortages it is amazing that Sitara has been able to locate these items and we thank them most sincerely for their hard work and perseverance. Thank you also to all our loyal supporters - it is because of you this has been possible.
A severe thunderstorm hit the Pokhara area of Nepal yesterday. Hailstones and ice balls the size of golf balls damaged one of the solar panels on the Sarangkot Nestling Home. Many vegetables planted to provide food for the Children's Home, were also destroyed.
It is thought that the solar panel can be repaired after the 'lockdown' ends. 1. Health Posts In Marbu, Lapilang, Bhirkot, Chilankha And Melung Migrant workers from China and India who have lost their jobs through the Covid-19 virus are returning to their villages. This is also true of thousands of workers in Kathmandu who have lost their jobs because of the 'lockdown' in Nepal now entering the 26th day. The likelihood of the virus spreading to the many remote villages is therefore extremely high. The Nestling Trust(TNT) has through Sitara, our partner NGO, located masks, gloves, aprons, disinfectant, thermo thermometers and sanitizer, for the nurses and staff in the five Health Posts we have established, and also for the District Public Health Centre in Dolakha. We are currently seeking a special license (due to the lockdown) from the government, to allow transportation of the supplies to the remote villages of Marbu, Bhirkot, Lapilang, Chilankha, and Melung. The Health Posts are currently providing Health education for villagers regarding measures to prevent the spread of the virus such as handwashing and self-distancing. We are supplying soap for families too poor to afford it. The Health Posts of Marbu and Melung have taken over the local school building in each village, and are making isolation wards but there is desperate lack of equipment in the face of the approaching disaster. We know that no patient in these areas will have access to ventilators or anything like the facilities they might find in a city hospital. TNT is trying to raise funds to help in providing some equipment for these isolation wards, at present there is not even any oxygen. The photos below show the preparation of the isolation ward in the local school in Melung, it also shows the desperate need of equipment! 2. Preeti Project The Nestling Trust and Sitara our partner NGO have been working with the Local government at Preeti, a very mountainous and remote area of Ramechap region. Here 30,000 people are without medical facility and we plan to help build and establish a Health and Birthing Centre. Sadly due to the Corinavirus and the lockdown in Nepal, the plan has had to be delayed. This is very frustrating however, money raised by TNT to commence this project has been 'ringfenced' until we have permission from the Social Welfare Council to go ahead. 3. The Nestling Children's Home, Sarangkot
Report from Bijendra Aryal, Nestling Trust Director, Kathmandu The number of Covid-19 infected people has now reached forty seven. As the number increases people are panicking - they fear that the government will increase the 'lockdown' and this will result in people dying of hunger rather than by COVID 19. The reason is that they have lost their jobs and livelihoods and so have no money to buy food. People are returning to their villages without caring about the possible effect of spreading the coronavirus, people are going on trucks and busses. There is a lack in coordination and effective management. It is affecting everyone but especially the underprivileged - children and families are suffering. Only the big supermarkets are allowed to open so people think that government is discriminating against the small shopkeepers who have been forced to close. There is a lack of awareness of social distancing. Hundreds of people gather in public places to get food and that has increased the chances of spreading of virus. We don’t know how many people are infected, one family who has been sewing and distributing masks was found infected with corona today. In the villages there is a greater lack of awareness, due to gatherings and partying ,whole villages could be infected. When 'lockdown' is over and people start to come back to Kathmandu from the villages then the situation in Kathmandu will be made worse. Hospitals will struggle, already it has been announced that there is scarcity of blood in blood banks. Thousands leave Kathmandu for their villages. Due to 'lockdown' no jobs and no money. No social distancing as many crowd into lorries! For many walking is the only option - journeys can take 7 to 10 days Exhausted Families Rest Enroute To Their Villages
Impact of Coronavirus Covid -19 in Nepal.Coronavirus Covid-19 arrives into Nepal.
A student doing his PhD in Wuhan, China, returned to Nepal on 5th January 2020. He was admitted to hospital complaining of respiratory problems on 13th January 2020. Throat swabs and blood samples taken from the student were sent to the WHO’s Collaborating Centre in Hong Kong. After treatment and medication the student's condition improved and he was discharged after five days, but crucially before a report showing positive results was sent back to the hospital. Efforts were made to trace the student's family but there was no indication as to where the man had gone or what his activities had been after discharge. Development. 24th March 2020 Nepal Government announces a total lockdown which is being enforced by security forces. 17th April 2020 in a single day an increase of 14 active cases bringing the total to 30. The Government is increasing the testing through Rapid Diagnostic Test and PCR Machine. So far nearly 25000 people have been tested and 30 confirmed positive. Observations Today is the 25th day of the Lockdown of Nepal, now the social effects can be seen. Jobs and livelihoods are lost especially those earning daily labour wages such as those in city areas and those involved in construction suddenly there is no money coming in and so have no means to buy food. People are going to their villages by foot carrying the children and all their belongings. They have to walk 50 Km to 800 Km to reach their destinations. On the way, they have no place to eat and only streets and fields to sleep. It is difficult to cross from one district to another. Sometimes they are prevented by local people fearful of any virus they may have and sometimes stopped and turned back by police, but they have nowhere else to go. Now it is the matter of hunger and a humanitarian disaster. Already many people in Kathmandu are hungry due to 'Lockdown' and being unable to work. These Government measures have now been extended until 30th April '20, and enforcement is very strict. Subash Shiwakoti Sitara our partner NGO has managed to locate much needed personal protective equipment for the nurses and staff at all five health posts which TNT and Sitara has helped build and establish. It is imperative that TNT supports the clinics as well as the District Health Office in Dolakha, in their quest to prevent or slow, the spread of the Covid-19 virus in Nepal. TNT today transferred NR's 666000 (£4500) for the purchase of masks, gloves. aprons, thermogun thermometers, disinfectant, buckets, sanitiser and also soap for the villagers. We are most grateful to Sitara for their huge efforts in finding these essential items and to our loyal supporters who make it possible for us to provide this urgently needed assistance. Sitara our partner NGO has managed to locate much needed personal protective equipment for the nurses and staff at all five health posts which TNT and Sitara has helped build and establish. It is imperative that TNT supports the clinics as well as the District Health Office (DHO) in Dolakha, in their quest to prevent or slow, the spread of the Covid-19 virus in Nepal. TNT today transferred NR's 666000 (£4,500) for the purchase of masks, gloves. aprons, thermogun thermometers, disinfectant, buckets, sanitiser for the Health Posts and DHO, and also soap for the villagers.
In response to the Corinavirus pandemic the Nepal government announced a total 'Lockdown' on 24th March '20. This is being enforced by the security forces.
By the 2nd April '20 only 5 cases of people suffering with the virus had been confirmed but it is thought that this is due to lack of resources. So far less than 1000 have undergone testing. Many migrant workers have returned from India, the Gulf States and China and prior to the 'Lockdown' thousands of Nepali families left Kathmandu and headed for their home villages. It could well be that Corinavirus has already spread to many villages around the country. To date there has been 16 cases of Covid-19 coronavirus confirmed in Nepal and one death. Today the Government has extended the 'lockdown' for at least another two weeks. Today The Nepali Times reports that the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID Nepal) has provided a £802,000 grant to help strengthen Nepal’s preparedness and response to the corona virus pandemic (COVID-19). The support (already provided) has helped mobilise the World Health Organization (WHO) to focus on increasing Nepal’s technical expertise, strengthening sample and laboratory management; disease surveillance and contact tracing; improving infection prevention and control; strengthening information management; and improving the clinical management of cases. Additionally, UK support has also helped provide the crucial consultation services of a microbiologist from Public Health England which complements DFID’s existing technical assistance to Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population. Lisa Honan, Head of Office for DFID Nepal said, “The UK’s early commitment to tackle the unprecedented challenges presented by this pandemic reflect our strong relationship with the Government of Nepal. We will continue to support Nepal’s immediate and long-term needs, focusing now on protecting vulnerable people.” Minister of Health and Population, Bhanubhakta Dhakal said, “The government of Nepal has worked actively to take precautions against the spread of corona virus in the country. We are grateful for this timely support from the UK to further strengthen our response to tackle the adverse impact of the virus.” https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/uk-support-to-help-strengthen-nepals-response-to-covid-19/ In response to the Corinavirus pandemic the Nepal government announced a total 'Lockdown'. This has been enforced by the security forces.
By the 2nd April '20 only 5 cases of people suffering with the virus had been confirmed but it is thought that this is due to lack of resources. So far less than 1000 have undergone testing. Many migrant workers have returned from India, the Gulf States and China and prior to the 'Lockdown' thousands of Nepali families left Kathmandu and headed for their home villages. It could well be that Corinavirus has already spread to many villages around the country. |
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