NRNA to supply oxygen concentrators to Nepal

KATHMANDU, May 9: The Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has decided to supply medical equipment worth approximately Rs 2 million to Nepal immediately as the country is struggling with the second wave of coronavirus. 

An emergency meeting of the NRNA held on Friday under the chairpersonship of its President Kumar Pant decided to send 100 oxygen concentrators to Nepal immediately, according to NRNA’s Health Committee coordinator Dr sanjiv Sapkota. He spoke the need for coming up with short-term and long-term plans for the sustainable management of medical oxygen which is crucial for the treatment of Covid-19 especially for those with shortness of breath.
 
NRNA vice-president Dr Badri KC highlighted the need for setting up a help desk to provide mental health service and counseling during the crisis.
 
On the occasion, NRNA treasurer Mahesh Shrestha urged all national committees to lend helping hands to Nepal to fight the pandemic. NRNA America general secretary informed that a Covid-19 isolation center would be established soon in Janakpur at the cost of 15,000 US dollar while NRNA UK president Punam Gurung said they had urged the British Government for Covid-19 vaccine support to Nepal.
 
As said by NRNA Australia president Keshab Kandel, the Nepali community in Australia had launched a fund raising campaign to help Nepal fight the pandemic. The participants of the meeting stressed the need for establishing more isolation centers, providing motivation to health/medical workers, increasing the PCR test coverage and launching the health awareness campaign to control the infection risk.