Infection prevention and awareness in remote Nepal

Dear friends,

Thank you for your contribution and trust in us throughout the global pandemic to deliver the services in Nepal’s remote Himalayan regions. Through your support in the past years, we are able to focus on providing support for health, livelihood, and education.

Update from the field

With your support, we have continued to work in Nepal’s most remote, hard-to-reach and resource-deficit mountainous communities in Bajura, Humla, and Mugu districts in far western Nepal where local villagers need to walk several hours to receive basic health services.

In the last quarter, June- August 2022 in total 15,793 people were reached through PHASE Nepal supported 13 health posts for consultation on various diseases, infections, and emergency health services. In this period 14,168 community people were engaged in health awareness sessions on infection prevention measures like frequently washing hands, maintaining personal hygiene, eating a balanced diet, and timely seeking medical advice through PHASE-supported health facilities, along with essential maternal and child health-related sessions.

Besides, during the pandemic, we were also able to continue maternal and child healthcare. A total of 149 (93 by PHASE health staff only) safe deliveries from the PHASE supported 13 health posts in the last quarter.

With your support we were able to include additional infection prevention activities like providing PPE such as masks to the health posts and community members, providing “hygiene kits” to targeted groups with items such as soap, nail cutters, and hand sanitizer, supporting the government in the screening of COVID cases. During this reporting period, our PHASE staff worked together with the government staff in covid immunization. Several cases of COVID and a few deaths are observed in main cities like Kathmandu however, COVID cases are negligible in the PHASE Nepal project areas.

Himalayan communities are grateful for the support that you have made possible at this critical time:

A Government health worker at a Humla- Maila health post shared, “When the pandemic started we were looking for central government to provide us the budget for preparation. But, before them, PHASE Nepal was the first to provide PPE to this area. That was great support for us to continue the health services at communities.” He also added that the PHASE staff is available most of the time of the year and to respond to any health emergencies.

A mother in Photu, Mugu shared “It was good to get PPE. We didn’t have enough money to buy masks, and we would cover our faces with shawls that would not have been protecting us. From PHASE staff we also learned that wasn’t safe. Now, we are able to maintain distance, wash hands and wear masks to prevent infection. This thing supported to prevent the infection and also was easier for us to take care of the infected family members.”

PHASE ANM at Natharpu health post in Mugu district shared, “when the covid vaccine came to the village the traditional healers were reluctant to take the vaccine. We organized a special orientation session for them about the benefit of vaccination. Then only they agreed to it and are protected.”

For now, the daily infection rate is low in Nepal and more than 70% of people received the full dose of vaccination. PHASE Nepal has continued the essential and emergency health care services for infection prevention, and maternal and child health care in 13 communities.

All this has been possible with generous support like yours. We heartly thank you for your every support. Your support has made us capable to continue the health and COVID prevention/protection/vaccination services and save hundreds of lives in remote, resource-poor, Himalayan communities.

Our team will continue to be prepared for any form of future epidemics and health emergencies. We hope your support will be continued. We thank you wholeheartedly for joining hands to save lives and empower the most marginalized communities of Nepal. It would also be great if you could share our work with your colleagues who have an interest to support Himalayan communities through health, education, livelihoods, and disaster risk mitigation activities.

Dear friends,

Thank you for your contribution and trust on us during the global pandemic to deliver the services in the Nepal’s remote Himalayan regions. As we are aware about the worldwide impact of the corona virus in all aspect of human life. It's a huge relief that the virus infection appears to have be confined for the time being thanks to the vaccination.

With your continued support, our contribution to sustain the virus has been remarkable. Since the start of the coronavirus, we were able to initiate screening health desks, antigen tests, and quarantine centers with oxygen concentrators, infection prevention materials, and awareness on the use of vaccine at the communities.

“We are able to increased awareness on the preventive measures of COVID and also on use of vaccination. Earlier people were reluctant for COVID vaccination, several misinformation were circulated. After several round of awareness orientation we are able to clear the misinformation regarding vaccine. Now, they themselves come to health post to get vaccine. This is amazing achievement for us.” PHASE ANM, who served at Bajura, Bichya Health post throughout the pandemic.

Additionally, through 13 health posts and community outreach centers we continued the emergency and essential services. In first quarter of 2022 through PHASE supported health posts 12, 804 people were reached for consultation services on various diseases, infections and emergency services. Also, 13,210 community people were engaged on health awareness session on infection prevention measures like frequently washing hands, maintaining personal hygiene, eating balanced diet and timely medical advice.

Also, we regularly conduct orientations and training for local stakeholders to amplify the message on topics that support prevention of the disease. In this quarter a total of 3,533 local stakeholders (female community health volunteers, traditional healers, mother-in-law, teachers and local representative) were engaged.

 “The community where we live is extremely isolated, when the pandemic started, we were unaware about the situation. There were different kinds of rumors. PHASE health workers have always supported our community with right information and guidance. The treatment has been easy for us now.” A local female community health volunteer from Humla, Jair.

For now, the daily infection rate is low and more than 68% of people received the full dose of vaccination. Our team has continued the essential and emergency health care services for infection prevention, maternal and child health care at the communities.

We could not have done it without the help of our generous partners and supporters like you, which we appreciate beyond words. This preparation with your support has made us capable to continue the services for emergency and save hundreds of lives. Our team will continue the preparedness for any form of future epidemics and health emergencies. We hope your support is in this step as well.We thank you wholeheartedly for joining hand to save lives and empower the most marginalized communities of Nepal.