#HelpNepalLive Impact Week COVID19 Relief Fund

Image Credits: hrw.org, 

Nepal now has amongst the highest viral reproduction rates in the world. In some regions as many as 90% of the tests are returning positive. The Health Ministry has predicted that by July 15  the number of new cases could reach 800,000 people - resulting in ten critically ill patients for each available ICU bed. Hospitals are already overwhelmed and soon patients will start dying for lack of basic resources such as oxygen. Nepal has less than 600 ventilators and 1,500 ICU beds to serve a population of 30 million people. These resources are already overwhelmed by the crisis.

 “My name is Aman Bhattarai. I work for the Lufthansa Group in Frankfurt, Germany. You might recall me as one of the Lead Organizers of Impact Week movement and initiator of the global virtual format in 2020. Last month in Kathmandu, with my entire family, I caught COVID-19 virus (B.1.617 strain). I was amongst those unlucky ones who got seriously ill from the disease. After being hospitalised for 3 days due to extreme high fever and a sudden drop in oxygen, I was discharged with a recommendation from the doctor to rest and recover at home. Unfortunately, the oxygen level dropped drastically the next day due to which I had a near death experience. With the country in full lockdown, no hospitals admitting patients and lack of oxygen cylinders, I was in a dire situation. There was no immediate medical support accessible...”

Image Credits: moneycontrol.com

Impact Week is part of COVID Alliance Nepal as well as is in strategic collaboration with HAPSA (Health Advancement Programs To Serve All), a 501C3 registered non-profit organization in the United States, and its subsidiary HAPSA Nepal which is also registered as an NGO in Nepal. They are actively working with local governments and communities in Nepal on the frontline to train medical professionals, provide technical advice to the government and provide home isolation medical kits to people to save lives.

What will the raised fund be used for?

All the amount raised for #HelpNepalLive COVID-19 Relief Fund shall be mobilised through HAPSA Nepal (led by Dr. Ramu Kharel, MPH, MD) as well as local organisations part of COVID Alliance Nepal that are actively working on the group relief activities.

• As a pilot initiative, HAPSA Nepal along with COVID Alliance Nepal worked in building a home isolation kit for the municipality of Dhangadhi (one the the most hard hit areas in Nepal). Given its utility, we want to support the expansion of the kit’s use across the country. The isolation kit will consist of surgical masks, pulse oximeter, thermometer, soap, hand sanitiser, medication (Vitamin D, zinc, Vitamin C, paracetamol, and cough syrup), detailed instructions about home isolation, and emergency phone numbers.). The estimated cost for each kit is €20.

• The raised fund will be used to support the setup & operations of Quarantine Center for Nursing Professionals at Impact Week's partner King's College Nepal's premise. The center will be operated in collaboration with Nepal Medical Association and Nepal Nursing Association.

• The raised fund will also be used to support Oxygen for Nepal - part of COVID Alliance Nepal on the immediate procurement activities of oxygen concentrators and cylinders for isolation centres and governmental hospitals across the country.

With the already collapsed Nepali health infrastructure system, the current advice of public health experts is on keeping as many people home as possible to lower the strain. 80% of COVID-19 patients can be taken care of at home. For now, it seems that the only way Nepal can handle the burden of this pandemic is with home isolation. To support the home treatment of COVID19, majority of the fund will be used to help local authorities in distributing home isolation kits for local municipalities that are hit the hardest. 

Should the donations exceed the amount required for the project, these means will be used for similar COVID-19 relief projects carried out by initiatives under COVID Alliance Nepal.

Thousands of people are still struggling in Nepal and they may be able to save their own lives or of their loved ones with your support. We urge you to donate to the Impact Week’s #HelpNepalLive COVID-19 Relief fund.

We are happy to issue tax receipts for annual gifts totalling EUR 100 and more. German tax authorities will acknowledge your proof of payment (e.g. bank statement) for gifts up to a maximum of EUR 200.

Kirche in Aktion e.V. has been supporting Impact Week on the logistics and finance of organisational activities since 2015. #HelpNepalLive COVID-19 Relief Fund shall be collected and mobilised through Kirche in Aktion.

Should you have any specific questions or queries, we shall always be at your disposal.

Aman Bhattarai | aman.bhattarai@zerog.aero | DE: +4915780286916 (WhatsApp) | NP: +9779848855444
Dr Jens Unger | jens.unger@dlh.de | +49 1522 4156 129

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