COVID-19 RESPONSE | Himalayan Trust Nepal

World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a pandemic in March 2020. Nepal too has been affected by it. Covid-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first case in Nepal was recorded in January 2020 and in subsequent months it spread in all the provinces and districts of Nepal. In Solukhumbu, as of July 2020, seven cases were recorded from the Nepalese arriving from abroad.

Himalayan Trust Nepal was quick to respond to the control of the pandemic in the Solukhumbu district. The Trust prepared response plans, proposals and approached its donors like American Himalayan Foundation, Himalayan Trust New Zealand, and Sir Edmund Hillary Stiftung Germany. Covid-19 preventive materials were procured in Kathmandu and transported to Kunde and Phaplu hospitals and over a dozen community clinics in the Solukhumbu district during the lockdown.

Phaplu and Kunde hospitals, including clinics, played crucial roles in controlling the spread of disease while providing regular medical services. With the help of Covid-19 prevention materials, health staff and medicines support, Phaplu Hospital identified 7 infections among the quarantined people. They were sent to COVID treatment hospitals and all of them managed to recover.

A) Awareness Programme

Kunde Hospital team took steps to prevent the spread of disease in the Khumbu region. The hospital team visited Monjo, Thame, Phortse, Pangboche, and Khumjung villages and delivered public awareness about Covid-19 and ways to prevent it. Kunde Hospital and its peripheral clinics set up the handwashing station at the hospital and clinic premises. Although the Nepal Government imposed a nationwide lockdown and closure of all outpatient clinics, Kunde Hospital and its peripheral clinics continued its service following safety measures despite the risk.

The regular monthly vaccination was conducted taking appropriate Covid-19 precautionary measures. Kunde Hospital faced a great challenge in rescuing emergency patients to Kathmandu who had surgical conditions but was able to send them to Kathmandu with support from the local government. The hospital team is pleased that all four patients had successful operations at Kathmandu. The preventive materials for Covid-19 received from the AHF had helped Kunde Hospital and peripheral clinics to continue its service during the pandemic and be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

Whereas, HTN developed a radio jingle about Corona Virus and subscribed to Himal FM to air the jingle. Himal FM is an FM station based in Salleri with a wide range of coverage.

B) Covid-19 Preventive Materials

Kunde Hospital and Outreach Clinics

In early May 2020, the COVID-19 preventive materials for Kunde Hospital and outreach clinics reached Kunde Hospital. These materials included PPE sets, hand sanitizer, N95 masks, surgical masks, sterilized and non-sterilized gloves, thermal guns, disinfection room sprays, etc. With the financial support from the American Himalayan Foundation, HTN was able to deliver the most needed materials during these difficult times to Kunde Hospital. The materials have been used in Kunde Hospital, Thame, Phortse, Monjo, and Namche Dental clinics.

Community awareness talks about Covid-19 held at Pangboche

Community awareness talks about Covid-19 held at Phortse villages.

Covid-19 prevention talk programme held at Monjo Clinic

COVID-19 materials supported by AHF to Kunde Hospital and outreach clinics, May 2020

Phaplu Hospital and Other Clinics in Solu Region

On 1st May 2020, Covid-19 preventive materials were handed over to Phaplu Hospital and Junbesi health post in Solu. The materials were handed over to the Chairperson of Phaplu Hospital Board, Mr. Bir Kumar Rai, and Hospital In-charge Mrs. Sani Sherpa. The materials for the Junbesi health post was handed over to the frontline health staff of the health post. The support materials included hand sanitizer, N95 masks, surgical masks, gloves, digital thermometer, infrared thermometer, disinfection room spray, nebulizer, and phenyl.

Likewise, a second lot of the Covid-19 prevention materials (PPE sets, KN95 masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, disinfection room sprays, etc.) were handed over to the hospital on 6th June 2020. The hospital staff handled one of the Covid-19 infected patients very well with the PPE sets that Himalayan Trust had provided in the first lot. Taking into consideration the rising cases of Covid-19 infections in Nepal and the high risks to the frontline health workers of Phaplu Hospital and local people, Himalayan Trust supported the second lot of preventive materials. Himalayan Trust representative, Mr. Nava Bahadur Bhujel handed over the materials to the Chairman of the Hospital Management Board, Mr. Bir Kumar Rai, and Hospital In-charge, Ms. Sani Sherpa, and other staff personnel. The funding for the procurement of the essential materials was possible through the support of Himalayan Trust New Zealand and Sir Edmund Hillary Stiftung Germany.

Covid-19 preventive materials were handed over to Community Medicine Assistant (CMA), Mr. Sachin Rai of the Bung Clinic on 5th May 2020 in the presence of Chairperson of Mahakulung Rural Municipality, Mr. Sagar Kirat Rai. The clinic is visited by more than 15 patients daily. Currently, six senior citizens have been taking shelter at the Sir Edmund Hillary Elderly Health Care Center. Both the clinic and the elderly home are managed by a single management committee. The procurement of the essential prevention materials was supported by Himalayan Trust New Zealand.

The preventive materials were handed over to the Sotang Primary Health Care Center on 4^th May. The materials were handed over to Mr. Shree Dwoj Rai, Manager of the center, in the presence of the Chairperson of District Coordination Committee, Mr. Bir Kumar Rai, and Chairperson of Sotang Rural Municipality, Mr. Bir Bahadur Rai. The procurement of the essential materials was supported by Himalayan Trust New Zealand.

Similarly, HTN handed over the Covid-19 preventive materials to the Salyan and Kangel Health clinic. In Kangel, the materials were overhanded over in presence of the legislative member of Solukhumbu Mr. Uttam Kumar Basnet, and District Coordination Committee Chairperson, Mr. Bir Kumar Rai, including clinic staff and the local community. The funding for this support came from Himalayan Trust New Zealand.