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Focused COVID-19 Media Monitoring, Nepal
Focused COVID-19 Media Monitoring Nepal1
-Sharpening the COVID-19 Response through Communications Intelligence
Date: June 2, 2021
Kathmandu, Nepal
EMERGING THEME(S)
• 800,000 of 1,000,000 doses of vaccine provided by China arrive in Nepal; Director of Sukraraj Teku Hospital wants
vulnerable Chepang and Raute communities to be the priority for vaccination; next vaccination drive from June 8
• 5,285 new COVID-19 cases, 68 fatalities reported on June 1; mucormycosis seen in more than 10 COVID-19-infected,
says Health Ministry; number of COVID-19 cases has reached 213 in Barpak, Gandaki Province to mobilize more
healthcare workers for the remote village
• Social stigma attached with COVID-19 making it difficult for healthcare workers to convince Lumbini rural folk to go for
tests
• Budget earmarked for COVID-19 vaccine procurement not enough for 60-70 per cent of population that will be needed
to be inoculated to protect citizens from the third wave, say experts
• Cyber sexual exploitation and harassment has gone up since imposition of prohibitory order: Central Cyber Bureau;
cases of violence against women have also surged
• Health Ministry has ordered all hospitals to reveal fees and charges levied on patients within the next 7 days
• Nepali Congress to start ‘Health Equipment Facilitation Campaign’ with biomedical engineer to fight
COVID-19 pandemic
1This intelligence is tracked through manually monitoring national print, digital and online media through a representative sample selection,
and consultations with media persons and media influencers.
WHE Communications Intelligence 2RECURRING THEME(S)
• Investigation committee has submitted report on the Bheri Hospital vandalization and beating up of healthcare staff to
Chief District Officer of Dang
ISSUE(S) IN FOCUS
The 800,000 of 1,000,000 doses of vaccine that China gave Nepal under grant assistance arrived in Nepal on June 1 on a
Nepal Airlines plane. The remaining 200,000 doses will be provided by the Tibet government. 2
Dr Sagar Rajbhandari, Director of Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Teku has said the people from high risk
community and backward in terms of health services should be the priority while giving the COVID-19 vaccine that Nepal is
getting from different nations. He has advised that the people from Raute and Chepang communities, who do not tend to follow
health protocols, should be the priority.3
The government has decided to start the next round of vaccination drive from June 8 — the 10,000,000 doses of vaccine
Nepal is receiving from China under the grant assistance will be used in this drive.4
The Nepal Veterinary Association has asked the government to put its members on the priority list while providing the
COVID-19 vaccine.5
Nepal reported 5,285 new COVID-19 infections and 68 fatalities on June 1, taking the death tally to 7,454.6
2
Setopati
3
Onlinekhabar
4
Setopati
5
Baarhakhari
6
THT Online
WHE Communications Intelligence 3According to the Ministry of Health and Population, mucormycosis has been seen in more than 10 people in Nepal. It has been seen in COVID-19 infected people.7 The number of COVID-19 infected people has reached 213 in Barpak of Gorkha.8 After staying for three days in Barpak of Gorkha, where the COVID-19 infection has been spreading, a team of healthcare professionals sent by the Gandaki Province has returned. However, the Province is preparing to mobilize more healthcare workers for Barpak who will stay there for a week and treat the locals there.9 The COVID-19 infection rate was highest on May 10 — it was 50.35 per cent. The infection rate was only 27.24 per cent on May 31. However, health experts have said this reduction does not mean the chain of infection has been broken, and that though the infection has declined in urban areas, it is yet to reduce in rural areas.10 In the rural areas of Lumbini Province, the local authorities are having a tough time convincing coronavirus suspects to undergo COVID-19 tests. The social stigma associated with COVID-19 and fear of the disease has led the local people to hide their health condition from their neighbors and even family members. Due to the social stigma surrounding COVID-19 patients and fear of hospital visits during the pandemic, coronavirus suspects postpone getting tested and treated, according to healthcare workers. This is also what is leading to community transmission of coronavirus in rural villages of Lumbini.11 The elderly citizens in Lumbini, waiting for the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose, have lost hopes. Among the nearly 300,000- strong population of the Province, the majority of those waiting for the second dose are elderly citizens. 12 Around 60 to 70 per cent of the population needs to be inoculated before the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic so as to protect people from the pandemic. However, experts have argued that the amount of Rs 26,750,000,000 that the government has allocated for COVID-19 vaccine management will not be sufficient to inoculate the citizens. That’s because the budget has 7 Ratopati 8 Kantipur 9 Onlinekhabar 10 Kantipur 11 The Kathmandu Post 12 Kantipur WHE Communications Intelligence 4
been allocated based on an estimation that one dose of vaccine will be procured at US$4, like in the case of Covishield vaccine. However, the cost of Covishield costs more than US$10 per dose at present.13 At a time when the central government is struggling to procure COVID-19 vaccines, the local levels have taken initiatives to buy the vaccines on their own. However, the central government has denied permission to the local levels for the said procurements.14 Nearly three dozen cases of cyber harassment have been registered via phone calls at the Central Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police in the past one month since the prohibitory orders were enforced, according to Superintendent of Police and Spokesperson of the Cyber Bureau Anand Aryal. We have got complaints of online sexual exploitation and harassment including threats and blackmailing after the second wave of COVID-19 in which offenders have been from inside the country as well, he said.15 Violence against women has increased in Nepal during the period of prohibitory orders issued in the country. Fifty cases of domestic violence and 14 cases of other kinds of violence have been filed at the National Women Commission in just the past month.16 The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has ordered all government, community and private hospitals to reveal their treatment cost within seven days. The MoHP has said it has received complaints of hospitals charging exorbitant fees for treatment amidst the pandemic, charging exorbitantly for oxygen, and adding financial burden on patients by asking them to do unnecessary tests among others.17 13 Kantipur 14 Ratopati 15 The Kathmandu Post 16 Nayapatrika 17 Onlinekhabar WHE Communications Intelligence 5
The Nepali Congress will start a ‘Health Equipment Facilitation Campaign’ with biomedical engineers to fight the COVID-19
pandemic. This will be a volunteer effort.18
The investigation committee has submitted its report regarding the beating up of healthcare workers at the Bheri Hospital
to the Chief District Officer of Dang Shivaram Gelal. The process for future action will begin after studying the report,
Gelal has said.19
Healthcare workers from different health institutions of Dang staged a protest demanding action against people attacking
healthcare workers at the Bheri Hospital.20
OTHER(S)
National News
HOSPITAL and HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
The number of COVID-19 patients has decreased in the Provincial Hospital Janakpur, but the demand for oxygen has
increased. The caretakers of COVID-19 infected patients put pressure on the hospital to use oxygen support despite patients
having good oxygen levels. This has increased the demand for oxygen, as per the hospital’s medical superintendent Dr
Pramod Kumar Yadav.21
18
Onlinekhabar
19
Setopati
20
Setopati
21
Annapurna Post
WHE Communications Intelligence 6A private hospital in Butwal — Edmund City Hospital — has started a 50-bed COVID-19 hospital.22 The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has said it will not start additional treatment centers with oxygen support immediately as the COVID-19 infection rate is going down. It has stated that COVID-19 patients comprise only 20 per cent of the total patients in hospitals that have come into the operation, which is why there is no need for additional treatment centers.23 The oxygen plant installation has been completed at the District Hospital Bajhang. It can produce 160-240 liters of oxygen per day.24 The treatment of COVID-19 infected has started at the COVID-19 Unified Central Hospital, in the new surgical building of Bir Hospital. The treatment has started from 50 beds of the hospital that has a capacity for 501 beds. 25 The government is set to arrange for an oxygen plant, ICU and other necessary things in the COVID Care Unit in the building of Manamohan Medical College in Dahachok of Kathmandu.26 A 334-bed COVID hospital will come into operation at Chandragiri Municipality of Kathmandu.27 The Ministry of Health and Population has decided to bar people other than specified persons of the government from talking about the COVID-19 pandemic along with other subjects related to public health with the media.28 Chief Minister of Karnali Province Mahendra Bahadur Shahi has said they will provide the risk allowance to healthcare workers including doctors in a lump sum.29 The District Health Office Lalitpur has said that Godavari Municipality has remained ahead in the district in the management of 22 Onlinekhabar 23 Setopati 24 Setopati 25 Baarhakhari 26 Ratopati 27 Ratopati 28 Baarhakhari 29 Setopati WHE Communications Intelligence 7
COVID-19 infected people and the control of the infection at the community level. 30 The Kathmandu Valley administration has decided to extend the prohibitory orders by one more week. However, convenience stores will be allowed to open during this time. The final decision will be made on June 2. 31 Banepa, which had been sealed off for two weeks, has lifted the ban. However, the prohibitory orders continue till June 9.32 Four employees at the GP Koirala National Respiratory Treatment Center in Suklagandaki Municipality, Tanahun were suspended on May 31 for taking money from people for quick PCR report from a private laboratory saying that reports from the government lab would be delivered late.33 The Criminal Investigation of Abuse of Authority and Provincial Assembly of Karnali Province have started investigation into the procurement of oxygen plants in the Province after the health contractor procured oxygen system generators instead of oxygen plants. The contractor bought oxygen system generators from Rs 32,000,000 provided by the provincial government to buy oxygen plants for eight district hospitals of the province.34 The Gandaki Provincial Government will center its upcoming budget towards the control, containment and treatment of COVID- 19. Providing COVID-19 vaccines to all its citizens to availing medical service to those in home isolation are some of the highlights of the budget.35 A 45-year old man from Province 1 has been staying in isolation since the past 34 days as his COVID-19 test report has not come back negative. The provincial government has ordered government hospitals there not to discharge a COVID-19 patient 30 Baarhakhari 31 Onlinekhabar 32 Setopati 33 The Himalayan Times 34 Nayapatrika 35 Nagarik WHE Communications Intelligence 8
unless the report comes back negative. However, this is not necessary as per health experts — one can come out of isolation after 10 days if the infected person is not showing any symptoms of COVID-19.36 The number of people entering Nepal from India and leaving for India is almost similar at the Trinagar-Gauriphanta checkpost of Kailali. On some days around 200-300 people are entering Nepal, and on some days, the same number of people are going to India in search of jobs. Those who had returned to Nepal after the spread of COVID-19 infection have also started to head to India again in search of a job.37 President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has been on a request-making spree. President Bhandari taking initiatives to directly approach the heads of states of friendly nations may look desirable. If vaccines do some because of letters by the President, it would be a much-needed respite for her country. However, not everyone is happy at the initiative. Many say Nepal’s constitution envisions the President as a constitutional figurehead with no executive power, whose job is to safeguard the constitution and work as the guardian of the government and the people. According to them, President Bhandari is doing what actually the government should have been doing through its agencies and officials and functionaries under them. Constitutional experts say that Bhandari has once again served as an aide to Prime Minister KP Oli rather than a President. 38 President of Janata Samajwadi Party Dr Baburam Bhattarai has said the government has made the ceremonial President beg for vaccines while it has been busy in worthless activities.39 The National Human Rights Commission has expressed serious concern about the situation created by the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that citizens have been deprived of their fundamental right to life and supply essential medical services. The rights watchdog has asked the government to ensure the right to health by ensuring timely treatment of COVID-19 patients across the country.40 36 Setopati 37 Kantipur 38 The Kathmandu Post 39 Onlinekhabar 40 The Himalayan Times WHE Communications Intelligence 9
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal on May 31 announced the opening of limited passenger flights to and from key international gateways like Turkey, Qatar and China.41 Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, local levels have taken the initiative to complete the academic session by Jestha (May-June), and begin the new academic session of schools from Ashadh (June-July).42 The coronavirus, besides causing death and misery in the community, has ruined businesses, particularly small and medium firms, robbing thousands of their livelihoods. Hotels and restaurants are one the sectors most affected by the pandemic. 43 Producer and director Ashok Sharma has said around three dozen film halls are on the verge of shutting down in Nepal amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.44 HELP and AID Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on May 31 held a virtual meeting with Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, regarding the joint fight against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The UAE minister expressed his government’s solidarity with Nepal in its fight against the pandemic c and assured continued cooperation from the UAE government for the welfare of Nepali nationals living there. The UAE government is sending a consignment of medical equipment and supplies to Nepal.45 Civil society leaders have donated oxygen cylinders for the second time to different health facilities in Bajura with the fund collected from businessmen, health workers, civil society members, and government employees.46 The Bagmati Province has released a sum of Rs 93,500,000 for its 119 local levels to help them in the effective control and 41 The Kathmandu Post 42 Kantipur 43 The Kathmandu Post 44 Baarhakhari 45 The Himalayan Times 46 The Himalayan Times WHE Communications Intelligence 10
containment of COVID-19 pandemic.47
Help from different nations and countries have continued to arrive in Nepal since the beginning of the second wave of COVID-
19 pandemic. Nepal has received help from China, Australia, Switzerland, European Union, Japan, Spain, Singapore, and
Nepalis in Gulf nations, among others.48
Businesses and social organizations have increased their activities in Bhaktapur to stay safe from COVID-19. The initiative led
by Bhaktapur Chamber of Commerce and Bhaktapur Lions Coordination Committee aims to start a quarantine center as well
as distribute oxygen cylinders to the hospitals.49
Non-Resident Nepalis Saudi Arabia has collected Rs 3,000,000 to buy oxygen cylinders and other materials needed for the
treatment of COVID-19 patients in Nepal.50
The IME Foundation has handed over healthcare materials worth around Rs 30,000,000 to the Nepal government for the
control and treatment of COVID-19.51
The Bhaktapur Municipality has started raising funds from its residents for the construction of an oxygen plant and
procurement of healthcare materials.52
International News
The World Health Organization has named COVID-19 virus variants found in different countries. The variant found in India
47
Kantipur
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Kantipur
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Nagarik
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Annapurna Post
51
Onlinekhabar
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Onlinekhabar
WHE Communications Intelligence 11(B.1.617.2) has been named Delta — it is the same variant found in Nepal too.53 Hong Kong will offer civil servants who get vaccinated against COVID-19 a day off for each dose, the government said on May 31 as authorities struggle to boost a sluggish inoculation rate among the city’s 7.5 million population. 54 Singapore is opening its COVID-19 vaccination program to adolescents from June 1 to help contain the latest outbreak that has infected some students and will step up testing and tracing.55 The World Health Organization, at the heart of the world’s sluggish handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, faces a potential shake-up to prevent future outbreaks as a top official warned that “the pathogens have the upper hand”. Under a resolution submitted by the European Union, and adopted by consensus, member states are to be firmly in the driver’s seat of the reforms through a year-long process.56 India’s Serum Institute will increase production of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine by nearly 40 per cent in June, officials said on May 31, in the first step towards alleviating a shortage that has worsened the country’s battle with coronavirus. It will make 90 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from June from about 65 million a month now, a company spokesman said. 57 The leaders of New Zealand and Australia downplayed their differences over China and urged more investigation into the origin of the coronavirus on May 31 after their first face-to-face meeting in more than a year.58 53 Onlinekhabar 54 Reuters (in The Himalayan Times) 55 Reuters (in The Himalayan Times) 56 Reuters (in The Himalayan Times) 57 Reuters (in The Kathmandu Post) 58 The Associated Press (in The Kathmandu Post) WHE Communications Intelligence 12
Contacts for further details Dr Sunoor Verma Strategic, Risk and Crisis Communication Consultant World Health Organization, Country Office for Nepal sverma@who.int sunoorv@gmail.com Ms Tsering Dolkar Gurung NPO (Communication, Media and Public Information) World Health Organization, Country Office for Nepal gurungt@who.int WHO’s COVID-19 response in Nepal is made possible through the generous support of the Government of Azerbaijan, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Government of Germany and USAID. Reference Code: 21JUN02MM_22B WHE Communications Intelligence 13
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