Overview of the Global Impact of COVID-19 in Nepal

Nepal adopted a federal democratic structure in 2017 and currently has seven provinces: Province No. 1, Province No. 2, Bagmati Province, Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province, Sudurpaschim Province, and Karnali Province. Of the provinces, Bagmati Province currently has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and has reported the highest number of deaths Out of 77 districts; the Kathmandu district has the highest number of mortalities. The number of deaths due to coronavirus infection in Nepal has reached 4,856. The death heave up has risen to 4,856. The number of actively infected people in Nepal has reached 1 lakh 9 thousand 740. There are 675 people in quarantine. The PCR test has reached 2.7 million 51 thousand 481 up to 1st Jestha 2078 according to the updated news of covid-19.

Nepal is currently struggling with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a severe and uptight situation in hospitals and elsewhere. Health experts have been voicing that the new virus strains brutally spreading all across the nation appeared to be significantly more transmittable and serious than the first wave, which occurred last year.

In the first wave of the pandemic, the elderly people were considered to be at a high risk as the fatality rate was higher among people above 60 years. But now, as the nature of the infection has changed along with the mutated strain of the virus, the fatality rate has increased among youths.

According to the doctors, of the total active COVID-19 patients at present, 20 percent need hospital care, and of them, 15 percent need oxygen support and around five percent need intensive care and ventilator support. This proves that the virus has become more fatal this year.

At a time when the second wave of Corona is horrifying the world again, the regular cycle of human life is being affected at an unexpected place. The second wave of epidemics is affecting more and more South Asian countries. In India, the southern neighbor, between 300,000 and 400,000 people are infected daily, and the death toll continues to rise. This in itself is a various and tragic situation from which the human race is paying an unexpected price.

The situation in our own country is also very delicate and frightening. The number of infected people in Nepal is increasing by 8-9 thousand daily and more than 200 infected patients are dying. The number of infected patients is increasing in such a way that the hospital beds are becoming inadequate and they are losing their lives prematurely due to a lack of proper consultation and access to doctors in time. At this time, Nepali society is troubled not only physically but also socially, economically, and psychologically.

Some people are dying of hunger, some because of grief, and some because of disease. So for a while, people are forced to leave the valley and return to their village to escape all these fears and anxieties. Even when the 2072 earthquake shook the capital and some other places, most of the people had chosen the village. It is urgent to facilitate the production of health items, medicines, oxygen, cylinders, fever measuring instruments, oximeters, etc. which are required and produced in this epidemic.

The government eased the lockdown. Nepal is facing a flood of COVID-19 cases. If no aggressive actions are taken, the epidemic is likely to result in significant morbidity and mortality in Nepal. The best way to control the effect of the ongoing pandemic in a resource-limited country like Nepal is to increase testing, tracing, and isolation capacity, and to set up quality quarantine centers throughout the nation. A comprehensive health literacy campaign, quality care of older adults, and effective management of the ongoing pandemic are most.

Many people are now aware of the health protocols to be followed in the Covid epidemic, although some effort seems to be needed to implement them. Similarly, business / commercial organizations have developed a mechanism to deal with Corona. Tribhuvan University has succeeded in conducting online classes in a matter of days. Financial institutions are out of order. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, It is trying to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on the economy. With the global transmission of COVID-19 in Nepal, the impact of COVID-19 has been carefully addressed to keep banking and financial services sectors.

People are dying due to lack of oxygen, Panic is everywhere. People are brought in critical condition and patients are even sleeping on the floor and corridors. Patients are requiring intensive care and ventilators. Nepal is facing desperate shortages of oxygen, ventilators, and other critical equipment. Most people don’t want to get tested, because they know there aren’t beds available.

One million rupees has been donated by India and eight million rupees by China and a few lakhs more have been bought from India. In addition, Nepal has no additional stock of vaccines and no assurance of immediate import. People, who got the first dose of the vaccine & are waiting for the second dose.

Economic activity slowed down. Factories, offices, shops, construction sites, hotels-restaurants, and schools-campuses are all closed. The production of goods and services produced by these organizations is stopped. Thousands and millions of people working there are lossing  their jobs partially or completely. Apart from working in government services and other formal sectors, the income also declined. As a result, economic growth is going up negative in indicator. The size of the economy is going downward. The same situation was raised last year.

In Kathmandu, where infection and death rates are currently highest, the passage and courtyard of hospitals are turning into emergency wards. All the beds are packed and every emergency room is full now. Patients are fighting for their lives. At present, there is not enough vaccine available for everyone eligible to be vaccinated.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that Nepal needs emergency assistance. Along with India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand are also in horrible straits, according to the WHO.

Health protocols
• Public every day to follow all the health safety protocols to stay safe from COVID-19 and to prevent its spread.
• The condition is becoming hazardous day by day that it may go out of control soon if we do not abide by all the safety precautions.
• Adopting safety protocols during home isolation and recommended taking medications only on doctor’s advice.
• The infection rate is very high in Nepal, this shows that the number of infected people is much higher at the community level.
• As it is a communicable disease, its prevention can be done only by infected people.
• Informing people who are sure of the infection not to mix with other households and other communities.
•  Gatherings and crowds in the market community families should be reduced.
• The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads.
• Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.
• Stay safe by taking some simple precautions, such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, keeping rooms well ventilated, avoiding crowds, and coughing into a bent elbow or tissue.
• Clean your hands before you put your mask on, as well as before and after you take it off, and after you touch it at any time.

 

(Ex-Deputy Director of Agricultural Development Bank (ADBL))