The coronavirus, which was first diagnosed in the Wuhan city of China in December 2019, spread rapidly around the world. On 23 January 2020, for the first time in Nepal, it was confirmed that a Nepali student who had returned from China was infected with Covid-19.
With the increase in the covid-19 infection, panic started spreading in the local community and it started having more socioeconomic effects in the country. Due to the nationwide lockdown, traffic was disrupted. As a result, local people who had traveled far in search of work were unable to return to their homes. As commercial and economic activities remained closed, the families who depended on daily wage labor for their livelihood began to face more complicated problems.
Due to the lack of necessary preparations and resources at the local level, it was not easy for the local government to manage the infected people and minimize the effects of Covid-19. In order to prevent and control the short-term and long-term effects of Covid-19, the LCWS has been implementing Covid-19 response project with the financial and technical support of the LWF Nepal.
Action 1: Public awareness programs for prevention and control of covid-19 infection
Radio message in local language was broadcasted in Jhapa and Morang for the prevention and control of the infection of Covid-19. In addition, public awareness related SMSs were sent to the mobile phones of the local community members. Flexes, banners and publications were distributed with messages such as washing hands frequently with soap and water, using a mask, maintaining social distance, covering the mouth with the elbow when coughing or sneezing, and going to the nearest health center for testing in case of symptoms of Covid-19 to avoid the more infection. The digital displays were constructed in local isolation centers to inform the local community to prevent the spread of Covid-19. It is projected that more than 25,000 general public received messages through such kinds of public awareness programs.
Action 2: Emergency relief material (food and non-food) distribution program:
With the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic, the government of Nepal announced a nationwide lockdown. Due to which the community members who depend on daily wage labor were struggling. Due to the closure of transportation, factories and industrial businesses, the daily life of the employees working there was affected, and the family’s regular source of income was lost, which lead the food crisis among the poor and oppressed families. Considering the risk of such kind of food crisis, the LCWS distributed food and non-food items as relief and 733 households (including 3140 family members) were directly benefited through the emergency relief material distribution program. For the relief distribution program targeted beneficiaries were senior citizens, single person, lactating women, pregnant women, PwDs and laborers trapped in the workplace due to the lockdown.
Action 3: Conduction of Capacity Building Programs
Training was provided to the local HRDs on what procedures should be adopted to bring justice to the victims through the judicial committee of the local government and related agencies in order to minimize the incidents of sexual and gender-based violence in the community during the epidemic. In addition, orientation was provided regarding child rights, human rights and women’s rights. Psychosocial counseling trainings were provided to local health workers and volunteers. Because of this, health workers and volunteers have become aware of the methods to be adopted to minimize the mental stress and impact on community members during pandemics and disasters. In total 470 health workers and community volunteers were directly involved in such capacity building related trainings. In addition, 16-days campaigns against sexual and gender-based violence were also organized in collaboration with the local government to spread public awareness against gender-based violence.
Action 4: Health Service Empowerment Program
To address the shortage of necessary resources in local level and provincial level hospitals during Covid-19, medical items were distributed, such as Masks, PPE sets, gloves, sanitizers, thermal guns, oximeters etc. Various medical supplies including UPS inverter, oxygen concentrator machines were provided to Koshi Covid Hospital located in Biratnagar. Similarly, the Bi-Pop Ventilator machine for use of the health treatment of newborns was provided to the Koshi Zonal hospital of Biratnagar. As a result, it was easier for the hospitals to provide health services during the Covid-19 pandemic. Similarly, the local and provincial hospital have supported for establishment of help desk and mobilization of volunteers with Toll Free number. The local government also have supported for Covid-19 vaccination programs. More than 18,000 community people have been directly or indirectly benefited through such health service empowerment programs.
Action 5: Enhancement of WASH facilities program
Understanding the reality that personal hygiene and sanitation, access of water point is essential to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the LCWS provided support for the construction of hand washing stations at local government offices and health posts. Apart from that, at the community level, dignity Kits containing cleaning materials such as toilet paper, soap, baby wipes, sanitizers, sanitary pads, etc. were distributed to 211 households. In overall, more than 10,000 people and community peoples have benefited through the enhancement of WASH facilities program. In addition, assistance has been provided to improve students’ access to drinking water and sanitation in 10 schools in Jhapa and Morang districts, from which more than 900 students have directly benefited.
Action 6: Restoration of means of livelihood
Due to the impact of the lockdown announced by the government of Nepal and due to the covid-19 epidemic, there was a huge impact on the community level. Daily wage workers and employees working in industrial factories lost their jobs. Community members who went to India to work have to face many challenges to return to their home. The small business of local people collapsed and due to the loss of contact with marketing, agricultural products damaged in the fields and were wasted. Due to the return of migrant workers from outside, sexual and gender-based violence also started to increase. In order to address such problems and challenges, CASH distribution program and rehabilitation of small businesses have been carried out. Because of such programs, during the lockdown, families who survived by taking loans from groups and cooperatives, whose businesses were destroyed, have been helped to rehabilitate their businesses and the food security of community members has been increased. In total 300 HHs including 1350 family members have been directly benefited through such livelihood rehabilitation programs.
Action 7: Conduction of Interfaith workshops for emergency response
`Since a disaster or a pandemic may affect to any caste, gender, religious group and everyone is equally at risk. So, to strengthen the interfaith networks to fight together against such disasters and pandemics. In collaboration with Inter-faith Peace Federation Nepal, Province No. 1, various level of workshops have been organized. Through which a Province Level DRR and Emergency Response Forum has been established in the presence of religious leaders like Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Bahai, Kirant, etc. and an operational guideline of that forum has been developed. Through this program, religious organizations and religious leaders will unite and cooperate and coordinate during the pandemic in the coming days and show solidarity for disaster response during emergencies.