The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Office Nepal, recently launched a project to strengthen health emergency preparedness of pre-hospital, hospital and post-hospital care in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal.
Issuing a press statement, the MoHP informed that the year-long project, which commenced in October, was a part of the ongoing collaboration between the MoHP and WHO Nepal in working towards enhancing the COVID-19 response in critical areas of actions, at community and hospitals.
“The project is being funded by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Office (ECHO) and aims to strengthen referral and transportation of patients, train 400 health workers, and set up post COVID-19 clinics in all seven provinces, as well as establish a skills laboratory at the central level,” read the statement.
“The MoHP, during this pandemic of COVID-19, has been proactive to strengthen all three levels of pre-hospital, hospital and post-hospital care with the technical support of WHO,” said Dr. Roshan Pokhrel, MoHP secretary.
“We acknowledge support provided from health partners, development partners and donors in management and control of COVID-19 cases, with especial thanks to ECHO for supporting us in different aspects of COVID-19 response at all levels of care,” he said.
“As part of the project, a series of trainings will be conducted for a diverse group of health workers to help early identification, management and referral of COVID-19 cases to the appropriate health facility. In addition, one ambulance in each of the identified hospitals will be upgraded and the ambulance drivers and basic emergency medical technicians will be trained to provide safe transportation and Basic Life Support,” said Dr. Pokharel.
The project will also support in setting up of a control room and a well-equipped skills lab at the COVID-19 Unified Central Hospital, which is leading the communication and coordination with the COVID-19 designated hospitals in the country.
The MoHP informed that a set of guidelines and training packages would also be developed to address the need for standardisation of operations, data management and case management, including training on the use of biomedical equipment at selected hospitals across the country.
“Recognising the importance of follow up on COVID-19 cases, the project will also support establishment of multidisciplinary post COVID-19 clinics at all seven provinces, following ascertainment of post COVID-19 case load in selected sites,” said the MoHP.
“The surge of cases earlier this May exposed just how vulnerable the country’s health system is and that much remains to be done in order to strengthen the systems in place to enable proper management and containment of COVID-19 cases,” said Dr. Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO representative to Nepal. “We’re grateful that this project has allowed us to continue activities and initiatives previously launched under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Population and roll out a wide-range of programs that will ultimately contribute to provision of better care of the people of Nepal.”
“This project, thus, aims to ensure early identification of acutely ill patients at home or institutional isolation and their timely referral to appropriate health center with management during transportation through strengthened pre-hospital care,” read the statement.
In addition, this project intent to warrant improved recovery of hospitalised patients through revitalised hospital care system.
Moreover, the project also prioritises better follow up of COVID-19 cases to identify and manage post-COVID symptoms for early return to normal/near-normal functioning.
Source : TRN,
