In response to a request from the Government of Nepal for international support, the Swiss Government has provided Nepal with essential medical supplies valued at US$8 million to tackle the devastating COVID-19 crisis.
On May 22, a special cargo flight carrying the medical supplies landed at Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu where Elisabeth von Capeller, Swiss Ambassador to Nepal, handed over the supplies to Hridayesh Tripathi, Minister for Health and Population of Nepal. This 30-tonne Swiss Humanitarian Aid consignment arrived in Nepal after 13 tonnes of respirators, oxygen concentrators, and other supplies were shipped to India on 6 May.
- The 30-tonne shipment contains 40 ventilators, oxygen concentrators and 1.1 million rapid antigen tests
- It also includes protective equipment including 110,000 KN95 masks, 50,000 gloves and 15,000 suits
- The ventilators, oxygen concentrators and protective equipment are expected to reinforce the response of various hospitals in Nepal
- Similarly, the antigen tests will allow for better monitoring and control of the spread of the virus, e.g., through rapid health screening, community level surveillance and the early isolation of patients
- The current shipment of essential medical supplies is part of Switzerland’s comprehensive response (SCR) to COVID-19 in Nepal which commenced in April 2020
- As of now, Switzerland has allocated a total of US$20 million to the COVID-19 response in Nepal
Stating that Switzerland stands in solidarity with Nepal and its people in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Elisabeth von Capeller, Swiss Ambassador to Nepal, said, “These essential medical supplies will save lives and provide further support to the GoN to control and contain the pandemic.”
So far, the SCR to COVID-19 in Nepal has included the procurement of 70,000 Roche PCR test kits and two PCR instruments and the installment of safe healthcare waste management and clean drinking water systems in two hospitals in Province 1 of Nepal.
Additionally, Switzerland has also established a scheme that engages local vendors to support farming households by allowing access to critical agricultural inputs, i.e., seeds. By adapting its existing projects to ensure the continuation of services during the COVID-19 pandemic, Switzerland has supported stranded migrants who have lost their jobs in destination countries with the provision of shelter, food, medical assistance, legal counseling, and assistance to return to Nepal.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal has announced that Temasek Foundation International, a Singapore-based foundation, has provided urgent medical items to Nepal to support its fight against the COVID-19 surge. The medical items provided in collaboration with MiRXES Pvt Ltd and Lotus Life Foundation include PCR kits, pulse oximeters, RNA extraction machines, and kits as well as 30 units of tele-ventilators and six units of ventilators. A Nepal Airlines cargo flight carrying these items arrived at the TIA on the evening of May 22 and was received by officials of the Ministry of Health and Population.
Similarly, Nepal has received a total of 150 cylinders containing 30 thousand liters of liquid oxygen provided by Tibet Autonomous Region of Government of the People’s Republic of China which arrived at Tatopani border port.
