Sadly Nepal, following India, has now entered a second wave of COVID-19. Since early April virus cases have surged, with active cases currently at 34117 (compared with a low of around 1,000 in January and February). From yesterday Kathmandu Valley enters another lockdown, since half of new cases are in the valley. We are seeing new symptoms from the UK and Indian variants and more children and young people are being affected. Thankfully more vaccines have become available just as this wave is reaching us… Medical and frontline workers have already had the opportunity to receive vaccines, followed by those over 60. In recent days many people over 18 including UMN staff have been queuing for a first dose of vaccine. 

Looking at the mental health aspect during this stage, people are dealing with different levels of stress. On Friday, 23 April, UMN’s Staff Support Group led the first seminar on stress management to help the staff in recognising stress in their lives and begin to find ways to reduce its effects. “We understand that stress plays a big role in our lives – some of that is good but at times it can be bad for us,” shared Andrew Young. Andrew Young and Andrea Young – currently in the UK – and a few Nepali staff from Kathmandu co-led the Stress Management Session. UMN encourages open communication among staff about stress issues and offers counselling if and when staff ask for help.

Please pray for Nepal — our people, hospitals, government and UMN’s work and response. Please pray especially migrant workers returning from abroad (often India) and their families and communities, and for those in Kathmandu Valley. Please pray for control of the spread of the virus as well as for hundreds of people whose livelihoods are affected as well as seeing domestic pressures increasing. 

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