COVID-19 in Nepal: Scarcity of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and its Alternative
Abstract
The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), which was first discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019, puts an entire world under unprecedented danger. Powerful nations such as the United States of America and European Union countries having their hardest time to get sufficient medical protective gear, ensure market operation, and eventually to save people from dying of corona infection. To date, 213 countries have been affected. World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 123,010 deaths and 1914,916 cases with coronavirus positive as of 15 April 2020. It has created a global public health emergency. There is no specific prophylaxis or treatment available yet. Hand washing, covering one's mouth when coughing, social distancing, self-isolation, and quarantine are preventive measures to hamper the spread of disease. Currently, Nepal has entered into the second phase of the outbreak. Health care workers (HCW) at the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19 are ill-equipped to treat coronavirus patients, due to not having adequate personal protective equipment in Nepal. Additionally, there is a shortage of PPE in the world market due to the aggressive buying of PPE globally. According to UNICEF, demand for protective gear used in response to COVID-19 has increased as high as 1000-2000 folds than of annual demand.
Conclusion: In this global scarcity, locally made PPE has become another alternate way for Nepal. Hence, some of the local garments, hospitals, and local rural municipalities have prepared and delivered to HCWs. Although these Nepal-made PPE are not as high quality as imported ones, they at least offer some protection to medical staff.
Recommendations: Following is our recommendation to the stakeholders:
Learn- from countries with the lowest mortality rate and best medical & preventive practices policies, as fast as possible.
Alternative Approaches - are necessary to decrease the risk of exposure to HCWs and are safe for patient care in this global market scarcity of PPE.
Solidarity- between richer and poorer countries is necessary.
Cooperate globally - international cooperation between governments, scientists, corporations, and health care professionals is not only needed but also necessary to end this pandemic.
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