Project Title
Emergency Assistance to Support Coronavirus Pandemic Response in Nepal 2021
Project Overview
The project “Emergency Assistance to Support Coronavirus Pandemic Response in Nepal 2021” is supported by Australian Aid, Caritas Australia, and Caritas Nepal, and implemented by Jan Jagaran Youth Club (JJYC), Bara, in Bara District. It was launched in response to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal and globally.
Following the spread of the second wave, the Government of Nepal re-imposed lockdowns. During this period, health facilities faced shortages of oxygen cylinders, PCR test kits, personal protective equipment, and human resources. At the same time, poor and marginalized COVID-19 patients struggled to access adequate food, and vaccination uptake remained low due to limited awareness at the community level. As a result, the second wave posed a serious challenge for the health system and communities.
In this context, the overall aim of the project was to contain the spread of the virus and mitigate its impact in Nepal.
Project Objectives
The specific objectives of the project were to:
- Provide appropriate medical equipment and support additional human resources to health institutions to help contain the second wave of COVID-19.
- Ensure protection and safeguarding of caretakers of COVID-19 patients.
- Disseminate accurate information related to COVID-19 to wider communities through various media, encouraging social and behavioral change.
The primary intended outcomes were:
- Improved capacity of health institutions to manage and contain COVID-19.
- Vulnerable and poor people, including caretakers and poor families, having access to food and health safety materials to prevent the spread of the virus and reduce its impact.
- Communities being informed, aware, and sensitized to reduce further vulnerability in relation to COVID-19 through national-level mainstream media and online platforms.
Project Coverage
The project was implemented in Bara District, targeting:
- Two Primary Health Centers
- One District Hospital
Key Achievements
- A total of 85 COVID-19-affected and vulnerable families received emergency food support.
- Community awareness on vaccination was raised through miking, flash board installations, and mask campaigns.
- Three additional human resources were deployed to Kalaiya Hospital to ensure proper and smooth treatment of COVID-19 patients.
- Kalaiya Hospital received essential medical equipment and 20 oxygen cylinders during the critical phase of the pandemic.
- Mahagadhimai and Nijgadh Municipalities received health equipment and safety materials to strengthen their local COVID-19 response.