CORONA PANDEMIC IN NEPAL

We would like to inform you here about the current situation in Nepal. At the same time, we would like to ask for your support in fighting the pandemic, because the country is heading towards a humanitarian catastrophe. You have the possibility to donate via the red button at the bottom of this page. If you want to be redirected directly to the donation form, please click here:

The current situation in Nepal

The number of confirmed infections is currently doubling every three days. The number of people needing oxygen for treatment is increasing rapidly day by day, and the health care system cannot begin to cope. There are several reasons why people are unable to receive adequate treatment or any treatment at all: Too few medical supplies and major logistical problems in distributing them; Too few medical staff, who are increasingly becoming victims of the disease themselves; Treatment costs rising ever higher due to the shortage of supplies; There is still virtually no vaccine.

One of the main problems is the lack of oxygen cylinders. Currently, there are about 7,000 to 8,000 of them in Nepal. Meanwhile, the number of people who need mandatory oxygen for treatment is about 30,000 and increasing exponentially. Statistically, there is about 1 ICU bed for 45,000 people in Nepal. However, two-thirds of these are in private hospitals. The medical care itself is even worse. But an even bigger and more difficult problem to solve is the distribution of oxygen to and within districts. The government has already expressed several times in recent days that it has very serious problems with distribution due to geography and difficult accessibility. The military’s few functioning helicopters fly ceaselessly as long as daylight and weather permit. But it is understandable that a dozen helicopters alone cannot supply this country with oxygen.

Temporary “corona hospitals” were set up in all districts. In the end, these are larger tents, schools or government buildings in which simple cots have been placed. Subsequently, staff from government hospitals and health posts were ordered there to care for the patients. The result is a shortage of medical staff in all facilities, especially government ones. Even in urban hospitals, on average, one nurse cares for about 40 to 50 patients and one doctor cares for double to triple that number. For this reason, patients in many hospitals now care for each other. People die there without a nurse or a doctor being present. It is therefore all the more important to give the few medical personnel the opportunity to protect themselves adequately against infection.

Another problem is the high cost of treatment, not only because of the lack of treatment facilities and beds. Every single day in an intensive care unit with oxygen supply costs about 25,000 rupees (almost 200 euros) in a private clinic! This is equivalent to about 2 to 3 average monthly salaries. In state institutions, the costs are lower, but still very high at about 5,000 to 10,000 rupees per day, and also largely without medical care. The result is that very many people cannot afford treatment, even if it were possible. In addition, the number of treatment beds in the state hospitals is far too small.

How we can help

Our help is much more than just a drop in the bucket, because oxygen and protective clothing save lives. We can help immediately and effectively, we just lack sufficient financial resources – that’s why we need your support.

What we can do and should do now: