Infection prevention and awareness in remote Nepal

The COVID-19 has posed the unprecedented global health crisis including Nepal. As of January 2022, Nepal is facing the third wave with 57,328 active cases multiplied in just a week.

With many migrant workers returning from neighboring countries, the infection now has reached to remote communities. Because of the lack of sufficient tests, the infections in the remote areas remain largely unreported. The vaccination rate is low (50% partially and 40% fully) which means the COVID-19 infection at communities with limited essential facilities can create a health emergency with severe symptoms and even deaths.

In such cases PHASE supported health posts are sometimes the only source of help in an emergency for many communities. PHASE Nepal has been supporting 13 of remote health posts, outreach clinics, managing rural quarantine centers and health desks in Mugu, Humla and Bajura districts. In the event of an emergency, we have continued to serve as the primary coordinator with district levels from the local communities. In such pandemic situation, most of the resources are diverted to major factors, and the vulnerable and marginalized communities suffer more for livelihood and receiving the essential health cares.

The PHASE health team has continued to provide services to the community, including raising community awareness of COVID-19 precautions, utilizing local resources to combat malnutrition in pregnant women and babies, delivering timely health care, and ensuring safe delivery.

Also where several of the local people are short on daily living resources, PHASE livelihood technicians are at the communities to support their livelihood demands, they are being taught novel agriculture practices such as off-season vegetable production, tunneling, mushroom farming, multi-crop farming, and small animal support.

In last three months through PHASE supported health post 10,297 people were reached for consultation services like OPD, emergency services, family planning, ANC, PNC, in which 95 safe delivery was conducted and through 192 community events 2,885 people were engaged on session on maternal and child health.

 “We are glad that PHASE Nepal is able to reach at places where even transportation service has not reached. With your support, we have been able to save lives of mothers with essential services such as child delivery, even in the time of emergency. We hope to be able to work together more closely in the future to help more disadvantaged people.” Himali RM, Bajura, Chief administrative officer

We have critical supplies such as basic medicines, personal protective equipment, masks, sanitizer and other equipment has already been sent in the project areas. Now 23 oxygen concentrators of 10-liter capacity, 4 sets of petrol engine generators to run concentrators in the remote, 80 sets of pulse oximeters are standby for emergency use.

This preparation has made us capable to provide services during emergency and save lives of hundreds. We could not have done it without the help of our generous partners and supporters like you, which we appreciate beyond words.