Kathmandu, August 2
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) handed over the oxygen cylinders worth Rs 11.9 million (equivalent to USD 100,000) to the government of Nepal to help it better prepare for the next wave of the pandemic, on Monday.
UNFPA Deputy Representative Hashina Begum handed over 800 oxygen cylinders to Bhim Singh Tinkari, the director of the Management Division under the Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Population.
The UN agency says this support was made possible under the existing South-South and Triangular Cooperation Project agreement between the governments of Nepal and China, and UNFPA.
Receiving the support, Dr Tinkari said, “We require oxygen supplies to respond to the current emergency as well as to prepare for a possible third wave. This support from the government of China and UNFPA will help increase access to health facilities with functioning oxygen supplies.”
Likewise, UNFPA Representative to Nepal, Lubna Baqi, said, “While we are providing the critical support to the Covid-19 response efforts, we must ensure continuity of reproductive health services including consistent supply of contraceptives and essential reproductive health commodities to mitigate the impact of the unprecedented pandemic on women and girls.”
Earlier, also with funding from the government of China, UNFPA had delivered over 7,000 PPE kits to support the government of Nepal’s effort to prevent transmission and respond to the pandemic. In addition, through the hospital-based one-stop crisis management centres and safe houses, the agency had delivered over 340,000 sanitary pads, supported by China, to young women and girls across the country as a part of Covid-19 and monsoon emergency responses.
