In this time of global crisis due to the COVID-19 outbreak where the spread is alarming and panic and uncertainties among people are rising, UMN stands in solidarity and is doing what we can to prevent and control the situation among our staff and project areas.

Nepal recently got its second confirmed COVID case, and the government responded with strong suppression measures to prevent an outbreak that would overwhelm the country’s health system. With home quarantine and the lockdown imposed from 6 am today for a week, the country wears a deserted look.

All Thapathali and Cluster staff are working from home where possible. Depending on the situation, our offices might re-open from the first week of April. As soon as the government announced closing offices for 2 weeks, Cluster staff were asked to leave and return to their families (often one or two days’ travel away) rather than be separated during the closures. Cluster leaders have reported that all their staff have returned safely to their homes before the lockdown.  

Our hospitals in Tansen and Okhaldhunga remain open and continue to provide their services, more valuable than ever at this time. They are working hard to prepare for a possible outbreak; for example, Okhaldhunga Hospital has turned its TB ward temporarily into an isolation ward for coronavirus.  And like hospitals all over the world, they are trying to get enough protective equipment for their staff. Their training schools (nursing, lab etc.) are closed like all other educational facilities.

The IMT (Incident Management Team) of UMN are meeting thrice a week and leading the organisation in this time of emergency.

Let us continue to pray for each other, those fighting the virus and also the poorest people who are hammered by the effects of the lockdown.

Photo Source: OnlineKhabar.com