Open AccessCOVID 19 and Nepal: Identification of Critical Public Health Measures
Author(s) -
Harish Chandra Neupane,
Niki Shrestha,
Shital Adhikari,
Basanta Gauli
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of nepal medical association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.176
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 1815-672X
pISSN - 0028-2715
DOI - 10.31729/jnma.4950
Subject(s) - medicine , surge capacity , pandemic , public health , isolation (microbiology) , contact tracing , private sector , pace , covid-19 , environmental health , economic growth , nursing , disease , geodesy , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , geography , microbiology and biotechnology , economics , biology
The COVID-19 pandemic is unfolding at an unprecedented pace. The unprecedented threat provides an opportunity to emerge with robust health systems. Nepal has implemented several containment measures such as Rapid Response Team formulation; testing; isolation; quarantine; contact tracing;surveillance, establishment of COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre and designation of dedicated hospitals to gear up for the pandemic. The national public health emergency management mechanisms need further strengthening with the proactive engagement of relevant ministries; we need a strong, real-time national surveillance system and capacity building of a critical mass of health care workers; there is a need to further assess infection prevention and control capacity; expand the network of virus diagnostic laboratories in the private sector with adequate surge capacity;implement participatory community engagement interventions and plan for a phased lockdown exit strategy enabling sustainable suppression of transmission at low-level and enabling in resuming some parts of economic and social life.