Nepal reports first Covid-19 death after more than two months

Nepal today reported the first Covid-19 death in last two-and-a-half months.

The last time Nepal witnessed Covid-19-related death was on October 24, according to the Health Ministry. “The countrywide death toll touched 12,020 since the Covid pandemic started,” it informed. The ministry also confirmed that some 988,979 infected people have recovered from the disease so far, though the national active Covid-19 caseload has reached 21, today. The nationwide Covid-19 infection tally remains at 1,001,020.

According to the latest data of the ministry, a total of 555 PCR tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, while no antigen tests have been performed during the same time. With this, a total of 5,992,656 PCR tests have been carried out till date. Nepal's Covid-19 recovery rate stands at 98.8 per cent, while the fatality rate stands at 1.2 per cent. 

Currently, there are no individuals in any quarantine facilities across Nepal.

Nepal welcomed 614,148 foreign tourists last year

Some 614,148 foreign tourists visited Nepal via air in 2022, almost five times compared to a year ago.

A year ago, in 2021, Nepal had been able to welcome only 150,962 foreign visitors due to Covid-19 pandemic ban on travel worldwide, though some 230,085 forign tourists visited Nepal in 2020.

The significant increase in foreign visitors in 2022 reflects Nepal's Covid-hit tourism industry's attempt to bounce back to normalcy, according to the travel entrepreneurs.

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) data revealed that some 67,932 foreign tourists visited Nepal via air in December, the last month of the year.

Tourist arrivals see a steady rise this year with April posting the highest number of tourist arrivals of the spring season with 61,589 tourists. 

However, some 88,582 foreign tourists entered Nepal via air in October, the largest monthly arrival this year, according to the NTB data.

Among the foreign countries, India continued to become the largest tourism market accounting for some 34.04 per cent - or 209,105 - of the total arrivals.

The US followed India with 77,009 visitors, whereas the United Kingdom ranked third largest tourist market with 44,781 visitors. Australia and Bangladesh are the fourth and fifth tourist markets, with 26,874 and 25,384 visitors, respectively.

Earlier, China also used to be one of the largest tourist market but due to Covid-19 pandemic, Chinese tourists could not visit Nepal.

ADB approves $200 million loan to strengthen education system in Nepal

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today approved a $200 million concessional loan to help Nepal strengthen the equity, quality, and resilience of its school education.

The programme will assist the implementation of the first 5 years of the government’s School Education Sector Plan 2021–2030 in a sector wide approach supported by eight development partners, including ADB, according to a press note issued by the multilateral development partner. “The programme will enhance learning provisions for basic and secondary schools; strengthening teaching and learning in schools; accelerate the recovery from learning losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic; and improve capacity of local governments in education planning, monitoring, and reporting,” it reads.

“Nepal has done significantly well in terms of improving access to education, however, there is still a need to address remaining equity issues to access and importantly to take a holistic approach to address persistent challenge in improving learning outcomes,” ADB Principal Social Sector Specialist for South Asia Rudi Van Dael said, adding that the programme will help accelerate reforms and transform the country’s education system to develop human capital, reduce social inequity, and attain sustainable growth.

Selected secondary schools will be upgraded to increase opportunities to study science education in grades 11–12, especially for girls. The pro-poor scholarship scheme will be expanded from grades 9–12 to grades 6–12 to improve retention.

To mitigate learning loss from the Covid-19 pandemic, a recovery and accelerated learning program will be jointly implemented with community and civil society organisations. “To prepare schools against future learning disruptions, more and better accessible e-resources will be made available through the Sikai Chautari online learning portal,” ADB Senior Project Officer (Education) for South Asia Smita Gyawali said, adding that the programme will further strengthen local government’s capacity to deliver education in the federal system.

ADB will provide an additional $1 million technical assistance grant from its Technical Assistance Special Fund and administer equivalent of $600,000 grant from the Government of Norway to support capacity building activities, strengthen programme management and coordination, and improve the monitoring and reporting capability of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology.

Unprecedented shocks rattle South Asia, exacerbating challenges and dampening growth

Beset with Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, Pakistan’s catastrophic floods, a global slowdown, and impacts of the war in Ukraine, South Asia faces an unprecedented combination of shocks on top of the lingering scars of the Covid-19 pandemic. Growth in the region is dampening, says the World Bank in its twice-a-year update, underscoring the need for countries to build resilience.

Released today, the latest ‘South Asia Economic Focus, Coping with Shocks: Migration and the Road to Resilience’, projects regional growth to average 5.8 per cent this year - a downward revision of 1 percentage point from the forecast made in June. This follows growth of 7.8 per cent in 2021, when most countries were rebounding from the pandemic slump.

While economic distress is weighing down all South Asian countries, some are coping better than others. Exports and the services sector in India, the region’s largest economy, have recovered more strongly than the world average while its ample foreign reserves served as a buffer to external shocks. The return of tourism is helping to drive growth in Maldives, and to a lesser extent in Nepal—both of which have dynamic services sectors. The combined effects of Covid-19 and the record-high commodity prices due to the war in Ukraine took a heavier toll on Sri Lanka, exacerbating its debt woes and depleting foreign reserves, the report reads, adding that plunged into its worst-ever economic crisis, Sri Lanka’s real GDP is expected to fall by 9.2 per cent this year and a further 4.2 per cent in 2023. “High commodity prices also worsened Pakistan’s external imbalances, bringing down its reserves. After devastating climate-change-fueled floods submerged one-third of the country this year, its outlook remains subject to significant uncertainty.”

“Pandemics, sudden swings in global liquidity and commodity prices, and extreme weather disasters were once tail-end risks,” World Bank vice president for South Asia Martin Raiser said, adding, “In the face of these shocks, countries need to build stronger fiscal and monetary buffers, and reorient scarce resources towards strengthening resilience to protect their people.”

Inflation in South Asia, caused by elevated global food and energy prices and trade restrictions that worsened food insecurity in the region, is expected to rise to 9.2 per cent this year before gradually subsiding. The resulting squeeze on real income is severe, particularly for the region’s poor who spend a large share of their income on food.

South Asia’s migrant workers, many of whom are employed in the informal sector, were disproportionately affected when restrictions to movement were imposed during Covid-19. However, the later phase of the pandemic has highlighted the crucial role migration can play in facilitating recovery. Survey data from the report suggests that in late 2021 and early 2022, migration flows are associated with movement from areas hit hard by the pandemic to those that were not, thus helping equilibrate demand and supply of labour in the aftermath of the Covid-19 shock.

“Labour mobility across and within countries enables economic development by allowing people to move to locations where they are more productive,” World Bank chief economist for South Asia Hans Timmer said, adding that it also helps adjust to shocks such as climate events to which South Asia’s rural poor are particularly vulnerable. “Removing restrictions to labour mobility is vital to the region’s resilience and its long-term development.”

To this end, the report also offers two recommendations. Firstly, cutting the costs migrants face should be high on the policy agenda. Secondly, policymakers can de-risk migration through several means including more flexible visa policies, mechanisms to support migrant workers during shocks, and social protection programmes.

UN calls for more inclusive and fair digital transformation in Asia and the Pacific

 The rapid, widespread adoption of digital technology, spurred in large part by the Covid-19 pandemic, and its economic and societal ramifications are the key focus of deliberations at a United Nations forum this week.

The Committee on Information and Communications Technology, Science, Technology, and Innovation, which opened today, is set to examine how this digital transformation has brought a number of benefits and opportunities for people, governments and businesses, but also has further widened the digital divide both between and within countries in the region, opening new development gaps and reinforcing a vicious cycle of socio-economic inequalities. 

“The United Nations has referred to the digital divide as the new face of inequality,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, an under-secretary-general of the United Nations and executive secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). “That is why digital inclusion must be at the heart of digital transformation and accompanying digital policies and regulations if the promise to ‘leave no one behind’ is to be met.”

This ‘digital big bang’ brought about by the pandemic has compressed normal periods of societal adoption of digital technologies from years to months or even weeks, as digital technology has steadily taken over more aspects of people’s lives. Digital inclusion and resilient digital networks across the region have become the foundation for governments and the private sector to effectively mitigate the worst impacts of the pandemic.

According to the Asia-Pacific Digital Transformation Report 2022, released today by ESCAP, the region is now the most digitally divided in the world, with more than two billion people who do not have access to digital technologies.

However, many government and business services are now ‘digital by default,’ thus the urgent need to develop new development paradigms, policy and regulatory frameworks in a more flexible, adaptive, and corroborative way.

At the heart of such new paradigms is the digital transformation process, where people are not just consumers but also creators of previously unheard-of products and services, thus accelerating the transformation of value systems and socio-economic structures.

The three-day Committee is expected to endorse the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway action plan for 2022-2026, which consists of a set of coherent actions aimed at bridging the digital divide and accelerating digital transformation for an inclusive digital society.

Additionally, the Committee is preparing for the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development, to be held on October 26 in Jakarta. It is also expected to express support for the Asia-Pacific Digital Ministerial Conference 2022, organised by the Government of the Republic of Korea in cooperation with ESCAP, under the theme ‘Shaping Our Common Future,’ from November 9 to 10, 2022 in Seoul as an important means of promoting multi-stakeholder partnerships on digital transformation in Asia and the Pacific.

Nepal and World Bank sign $100 million financing agreement

 The government and the World Bank today signed a concessional financing agreement for $100 million (equivalent to Rs. 12.7 billion) for Green, Resilient, and Inclusive Development (GRID). The proposed budgetary support aims to support improvements in the enabling environment in Nepal toward a green, climate-resilient, and inclusive development. It is the first in a programmatic series of three concessional loan on GRID, according to a press note issued by the multilateral development partner.

The agreement was signed by joint secretary at the International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division under Ministry of Finance Ishwori Prasad Aryal and World Bank Operations Manager for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka Lada Strelkova.

“In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government, World Bank and development partners signed the critical Kathmandu Declaration pivoting our programmes in Nepal to support the country’s goals of a greener, more inclusive, and more resilient development,” World Bank acting country director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka Lada Strelkova said, adding that the operation is a key part of this commitment. “Through this operation, we are supporting the Government’s key policy actions across sectors including water, land use, climate-smart agriculture, sustainable forest management, urban, waste, and pollution.”

This first operation supports policy actions for strategic GRID transitions such as the sustainable and productive use of natural capital; resilience of urban and rural infrastructure, human capital, and livelihoods to climate and environmental risks; and more efficient and cleaner production, consumption, and mobility. It also supports policy actions of the government for strategic GRID transitions that help build and maintain prosperity for all.

The operation encourages private sector investment in greening Nepal’s economy and creating jobs and livelihoods related to areas such as community forestry, agriculture, clean air, and solid waste management. It also supports reforms for strengthening inclusion in development decision-making and access to assets and services, according to the World Bank.

“Nepal’s shift to the GRID approach is a strategic move during a challenging time that is full of opportunities for the country,” joint secretary Ishwori Prasad Aryal said, adding that the shift will help Nepal continue to make progress in expanding and protecting prosperity while reducing poverty in the face of compounding challenges that affect Nepal’s development prospects, including the economic recovery from Covid and the on-going disaster, climate and environmental risks.

Australian ambassador hands over oxygen plant to Green Pasture Hospital

Australia’s ambassador to Nepal Felicity Volk, Gandaki Province Health Secretary Dr Shreeram Tiwari and International Nepal Fellowship Nepal (INF Nepal) chairperson Ram Chandra Timothy today jointly inaugurated an Oxygen Concentration Plant at the Green Pasture Hospital in Pokhara.

The Australian Government, through INF Nepal, established the plant at the cost of Rs 14 million, according to a press release issued by the Australian Embassy in Kathmandu.

“The handover of the oxygen plant coincides with celebration of 70 years of INF operations in Nepal,” addressing the inauguration ceremony ambassador Volk said, adding that INF have made a significant contribution in rural communities through the provision of health care services, livelihood interventions and promoting social inclusion. “With Covid-19, we have seen health systems under immense strain>

The establishment of the plant under the Australian Government’s Covid-19 Development Response Plan (DRP) will strengthen Green Pasture Hospital’s health services and serve as a reminder of the close friendship over six decades, between Nepal and Australia, she added.

In June 2021, the Australian government provided 7 million Australian dollar to non-government organisations (NGOs) including INF Nepal to boost Nepal’s ability to respond to Covid-19, including through the procurement of essential equipment and health supplies for hospitals and personal protective equipment for health workers.

The newly established plant will ensure a reliable and direct supply of medical oxygen in all regular and crisis situations, the press note claims, adding that the dual plant design provides five cubic meter per hour of oxygen, which is directly connected to a newly constructed pipeline system that delivers oxygen to every bed, ward and operating room in the hospital. “In crisis situations, oxygen output can be doubled by running both plants simultaneously.

The inauguration was attended chairperson of Pokhara Metropolitan City-13 Toran Baniya, INF Nepal executive director Krishna Adhikari and GPH Hospital director Dr Arun Kumar Budha.

World Bank provides $150 million to strengthen financial sector

The World Bank’s Board of executive directors today approved a $150 million ‘Finance for Growth’ development policy credit to strengthen financial sector stability, diversify financial solutions, and increase access to financial services in support of Nepal’s green, resilient, and inclusive development.

“A well-functioning financial system is a key enabler for the mobilisation of private investment and driver of economic activity,” World Bank country director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka Faris Hadad-Zervos said. “By strengthening the financial sector, this project will contribute to Nepal’s green, resilient, and inclusive recovery and growth path, particularly benefiting the poor and vulnerable.”

The second Finance for Growth operation will support enhanced supervision of the banking sector to address financial stability risks in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic’s impacts. The operation will help open up capital, insurance, and disaster risk financing markets, and foster financial product innovations, the multilateral development partner said, adding that it will also support initiatives to increase liquidity and inclusion through access to external commercial borrowing, financial digitalisation, and financial literacy for women. “This will help improve the functioning of the financial sector to support private sector-led growth.”

The operation also initiates a new climate agenda, supporting climate finance resilience policy measures across banking, insurance, and capital markets. This can pave the way for the introduction of green loan principles and incentives for green lending as well as new insurance and capital market products adapted to address both climate mitigation and adaptation challenges.

“Through this project we look forward to supporting the government’s transformative financial sector reform agenda which, among others, introduces a first round of reforms to strengthen financial sector resilience against climate-related risks,” World Bank task team leader for the project Peter Mousley said, adding that it will lay down strong foundations for a more stable, less bank-centric and more inclusive financial sector that is better positioned to mobilize private investment and support real economic activity.

Hong Kong extends ban on flights from Nepal

 Hong Kong extended a ban on incoming flights from eight countries including Nepal until March 4.

The decision today also bans incoming flights from the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan and Philippines, until March 4, with the Hong Kong government citing concerns over a growing Covid-19 outbreak.

Flights to Hong Kong are down by 90 per cent and hardly any are allowed to transit as the financial hub isolates itself from the world in the hope it can contain a coronavirus outbreak, even though new infections are overwhelmingly local transmissions.

Odd-even rule for public transportation lifted

After the public outcry, the three District Administration Offices (DAOs) in Kathmandu Valley today decided to lift the odd-even rule for public transportation.

A meeting of the chief district officers (CDOs) of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts held today, but decided to continue the rule in case of taxis and all kinds of private vehicles.

The valley administration has tried to limit the number of public transportation including buses, microbuses and tempos to check the spread of third wave of Covid-19. But the less number of public transportation forced the public to travel in crowed situation, spreading the Corona virus.

The Covid-19 Crisis Management Coordination Committee (CCMCC) also recommended the administration to remove the odd-even rule in case of public transportation including buses, microbuses and tempos.

Like the public health experts, the CCMC also concluded that the implementation of odd-even rule has only increased risk of further transmission of Covid-19 as most  public transportation were seen overcrowded after the odd-even rule was enforced to contain further spread of Covid-19.

The CCMCC meeting today also recommended the government to continue the closure of schools and colleges, and continue with virtual classes till mid- February. Earlier, the CCMC meeting had decided to suspend physical classes in schools and colleges till January end only.

Government mulls smart lockdown

As Nepal witnessed a sharp spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in recent days, the government is mulling to enforce a smart lockdown, apart from international border closure and suspension all international flights.

A Covid-19 Crisis Management Committee (CCMC) meeting held today discussed on possibilities of closing the international border and suspending international flights to and from Nepal in case of sharp rise in the number of Covid-19 cases.

"As the number of Covid-19 cases has continued to increase, the government may have to close the international border and suspend international flights as a precaution to contain further spread of the Covid-19 cases," confirmed a senior government official. "Though, the government is yet closely watching the situation and has not decided yet, the CCMC meeting decided to tighten cross-border movement and keep Covid-19 affected people in quarantines and holding centers,| he said, adding that the meeting today decided to increase the capacity of holding centers. "The meeting also decided to immediately complete the under-construction holding centers and arrange necessary budget."

Due to the severity of the Covid-19 cases, all the seven provinces are building holding centers that can accommodate at least 1,000 people at a time.

The next meeting will decide on smart lockdown, if the Covid-19 cases continue to rise. According to the Health Ministry, a total of 24 new cases of Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been confirmed today. Likewise, the number of new cases of Covid-19 is also increasing sharply as Friday alone recorded some 968 new cases, almost double from 540 a day earlier. Wednesday witnessed only 435 new cases of Covid-19.

The CCMC meeting, chaired by the prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, today also discussed closing cinema halls and schools, and prohibiting mass gatherings, though, the government is expanding the scope of Covid-19 tests across the country.

Addressing the Directorate Committee of CCMC meeting today, the prime minister also directed all government agencies to take necessary precautions to help contain further spread of Covid-19 cases. 

Australian ambassador hands over medical equipment to Bir Hospital

Australia’s ambassador to Nepal Felicity Volk provided medical equipment worth Rs 4.2 million to the Covid-19 Unified Central Hospital at Bir Hospital under the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS).

The equipment, including Intensive Care Unit beds and other equipment, will be used to establish an emergency ward in the Covid-19 Unified Central Hospital, according to a press note issued by the Australian Embassy in Kathmandu. "As the Covid-19 vaccination campaign continues in Nepal, the Australian government is committed to supporting health security under our Covid-19 Development Response Plan," Volk has been quoted in the press note. "The plan focuses on providing assistance to the most vulnerable. With Nepal responding to multiple challenges simultaneously, the needs of marginalised communities are more evident than ever."

"Australia’s contribution of equipment through the Lutheran World Federation Nepal will strengthen Nepal’s health system and serves as a reminder of a close friendship over six decades, throughout which Nepal and Australia have supported each other," she added.

In May, the Australian government provided Aus$7 million to NGOs including the Lutheran World Federation Nepal (LWF Nepal) to boost Nepal’s ability to address Covid-19, including through the procurement of essential equipment and health supplies for hospitals and personal protective equipment for health workers.

Vice Chancellor of NAMS Prof Dr Dev Narayan Shah, acting chief executive officer of Covid-19 Unified Central Hospital, Prof Dr Bhupendra Kumar Basnet, and LWF Nepal country director Dr Bijaya Bajracharya were present on the occasion.

Malla receives UN Woman Police Officer of the Year award

 The United Nations Department of Peace Operations announced that Superintendent Sangya Malla of Nepal, currently serving in the United Nations (UN) Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), will be awarded the 2021 United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year. Superintendent Malla will be presented the award by UN secretary-general António Guterres at a virtual ceremony on 9 November.

Superintendent Malla currently serves as the chief of the MONUSCO Police Health and Environment Unit, which she helped establish in the country’s capital, Kinshasa. The unit is responsible for implementing policies and procedures concerning the health and well-being of personnel as well as UN Police environmental initiatives, according to a press note issued by the UN. "Her contributions have added direct significance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and past outbreaks of Ebola virus disease, as well as natural and humanitarian crises such as the volcanic eruption in Goma last May, during which her unit alerted the local population and UN staff of precautionary measures."

"She helped establish and now leads MONUSCO’s Health and Environment Unit, enhancing the safety and welfare of our peacekeepers by mitigating the risks from Covid-19 and other threats,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. "And she represents something far larger — the many contributions of women police officers in advancing peace and security around the world," he said, adding that through her work, Superintendent Malla embodies the best of the United Nations.

A medical professional by training, Superintendent Malla helped develop guidance for preventing and mitigating the spread of Covid-19. She has organised over 300 awareness sessions this year on Covid-19 prevention as well as environmental protection for the local population, Congolese authorities and UN staff. As the MONUSCO Police’s focal point on Covid-19, she also been disseminating information about the vaccines and promoting vaccination efforts.

“I am honoured to receive this award, and I hope it will encourage more young women in my country and around the world to pursue careers in policing, which is still too often viewed as “man’s work’,” said Superintendent Malla.

The United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year award was established in 2011 to recognise the exceptional contributions of women police officers to UN peace operations and to promote the empowerment of women.

“Like many peacekeepers during this challenging time amid the pandemic, Superintendent Malla has gone above and beyond the call of duty to serve local communities,” said UN Police Adviser Luis Carrilho. “Together with her team, her efforts to raise awareness about public health and natural risks have ultimately made her colleagues and the Congolese people safer—a core function of policing.”

Superintendent Malla’s previously served with the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) from 2016 to 2017, where she was a member of the Formed Police Unit’s medical team. She joined the Nepal Police in 2008 as an inspector.

The award will be presented during the 16th United Nations Police Week which falls on November 8-12. At this annual event, heads of UN Police components and police experts from peacekeeping operations, special political missions and regional offices and UN senior leadership discuss performance, conduct and discipline, protection of civilians, conflict prevention, sustaining peace and other topics and priorities affecting UN policing.

About 7,300 UN police, almost 27 per cent of whom are women, are currently deployed in 14 UN  peace operations around the world, where they work to enhance international peace and security by supporting host countries in conflict, post-conflict and other crisis situations.

As of today, UNPOL has already achieved the 2025 targets set out in the Department’s Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy for all categories of personnel. Women police officers comprise 30 per cent of individual police officers and 15 per cent of members of Formed Police Units. Women police hold 40 per cent of professional posts at UN Headquarters and 33 per cent in the field.

Women also lead half of UN Police components in UN peace operations.

Nepal to get over 100,000 Pfizer vaccines tomorrow

Nepal is receiving as many as 100,620 doses of Pfizer vaccines tomorrow, according to the US Embassy in Kathmandu.

The US embassy in Kathmandu today informed through twitter that the Pfizer-BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine -- donated by the United States through COVAX, the international vaccine sharing scheme backed by the United Nations -- will arrive by Monday. "The vaccines are provided by the US to help control the spread of Covid-19 pandemic as well as to accelerate vaccination drive in Nepal," according to the twitter.

The US has already provided 1.53 million doses of J&J vaccines to Nepal in July.

The ministry has decided to provide the vaccines from 22 hospitals throughout the country to the people with compromised immunity.

The Pfizer-BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine will be the fourth vaccine to be used in Nepal. Nepal has so far received AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in India, Japan and Europe; Vero Cell vaccine manufactured by Sinopharm of China; and the single-shot Janssen made by Johnson & Johnson in the United States.

This is the first time Nepal is getting Pfizer vaccines. Pfizer-BioNtech, the first mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine, is developed jointly by the US-based Pfizer and the German firm Biontech uses a copy of a molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA) to produce an immune response.

It is said that the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine was 95 per cent effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed infection with the coronavirus.

Nepal has received 18,857,590 doses of Vero Cell, AstraZeneca and J&J vaccines till today.

China to provide an additional two million Covid-19 vaccines to Nepal

 China is providing additional two million doses of Covid-19 vaccines -- Vero Cell vaccines manufactured in China -- to Nepal under grant assistance.

During a telephonic conversation with foreign minister Narayan Khadka, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi announced to provide an additional vaccine, according to a press note from the Foreign Ministry.

The two foreign ministers -- during an hour-long telephone conversation -- discussed entire gamut of the bilateral relations between the two countries, including vaccine cooperation, trade and commerce, development cooperation and border management, the press note reads, adding that the two foreign ministers also talked about progress of different development projects, return of Nepali students to China for continuation of their studies, increasing the number of containers of fertilisers and other goods and their shipment through Tatopani-Zhangmu and Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border ports and resumption of regular air services between Nepal and China. "The two leaders agreed to work closely on issues of common interest and to further promote friendly and long-standing bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries."

China is the largest provider of vaccines to Nepal, both under grant and commercial deals.

The state councilor and foreign minister Yi also extended an invitation to foreign minister Dr Khadka to visit China at a mutually convenient date.

Central bank bars BFIs from auctioning collateral for up to six months

 The central bank has directed the bank and financial institutions (BFIs) not to auction the collateral of borrowers, if the loan amount remains overdue for six months only.

Revising the unified directives today, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has revised the provision to give respite to the borrowers, who have been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, most of the BFIs have been taking into auction the debtors’ property even, when the payment is delayed by just a month.

The central bank has also intervened in the financial market earlier this year, after many BFIs hav been found threatening the borrowers to make public their profiles in daily newspapers or blacklist them as loan defaulters due to delayed payment. According to the new provision, the BFIs can initiate auction, only if the loans fall in ‘doubtful’ category.

The central bank, through revised unified directives, has also revised the list of businesses highly affected by the pandemic. The list of highly affected business by the pandemic now includes private and residential schools, higher secondary schools, colleges and universities, vocational training institutes, preschool and child care. Similarly, land transport, beauty parlors, cosmetic surgery and related businesses, consultancies and health centers, and fitness centers are also categorised as highly affected businesses due to pandemic. Earlier, those businesses were listed under the medium-affected group.

Impact of Covid-19 on poor mental health in children and young people 'tip of the iceberg' : UNICEF

 Children and young people could feel the impact of Covid-19 on their mental health and well-being for many years to come, UNICEF warned in its flagship report today.

According to 'The State of the World’s Children 2021; On My Mind: promoting, protecting and caring for children’s mental health', UNICEF’s most comprehensive look at the mental health of children, adolescents and caregivers in the 21st century, even before Covid-19, children and young people carried the burden of mental health conditions without significant investment in addressing them.

According to the latest available estimates, more than 1 in 7 adolescents aged between 10 and 19 is estimated to live with a diagnosed mental disorder globally. Almost 46,000 adolescents die from suicide each year, among the top five causes of death for their age group. Meanwhile, wide gaps persist between mental health needs and mental health funding. The report finds that about 2 per cent of government health budgets are allocated to mental health spending globally, the report reads.

"It has been a long, long 18 months for all of us – especially children," said UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore. "With nationwide lockdowns and pandemic-related movement restrictions, children have spent indelible years of their lives away from family, friends, classrooms, play – key elements of childhood itself,” Fore said, adding that the impact is significant, and it is just the tip of the iceberg. "Even before the pandemic, far too many children were burdened under the weight of unaddressed mental health issues."

Too little investment is being made by governments to address these critical needs, and not enough importance is being placed on the relationship between mental health and future life outcomes, Fore added.

Indeed, the pandemic has taken its toll. According to early findings from an international survey of children and adults in 21 countries conducted by UNICEF and Gallup – which is previewed in The State of the World’s Children 2021 – a median of 1 in 5 young people aged 15–24 surveyed said they often feel depressed or have little interest in doing things.

As Covid-19 heads into its third year, the impact on children and young people’s mental health and well-being continues to weigh heavily. According to the latest available data from UNICEF, globally, at least 1 in 7 children has been directly affected by lockdowns, while more than 1.6 billion children have suffered some loss of education. The disruption to routines, education, recreation, as well as concern for family income and health, is leaving many young people feeling afraid, angry, and concerned for their future. For example, an online survey in China in early 2020, cited in The State of the World’s Children, indicated that around a third of respondents reported feeling scared or anxious. Mental- health features as one of the top three concerns of children adolescent according to community respondents in Nepal.

Diagnosed mental disorders, including ADHD, anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, conduct disorder, depression, eating disorders, intellectual disability, and schizophrenia, can significantly harm children and young people’s health, education, life outcomes, and earning capacity, the report reads.

While the impact on children’s lives is incalculable, a new analysis by the London School of Economics in the report indicates that lost contribution to economies due to mental disorders that lead to disability or death among young people is estimated at nearly $390 billion a year.

The report notes that a mix of genetics, experience and environmental factors from the earliest days, including parenting, schooling, quality of relationships, exposure to violence or abuse, discrimination, poverty, humanitarian crises, and health emergencies such as Covid-19, all shape and effect children’s mental health throughout their lifetime.

In Nepal 20 per cent of suicide ideation calls to psychological helplines are correlated with violence including GBV and 25 per cent with economic deprivation.

While protective factors, such as loving caregivers, safe school environments, and positive peer relationships can help reduce the risk of mental disorders, the report warns that significant barriers, including stigma and lack of funding, are preventing too many children from experiencing positive mental health or accessing the support they need.

The mental health of caregivers is also a critical protective factor for children and adolescents. Supporting parents and caregivers to identify stressors, seek help will enhance their capacity to care for children when they need it the most.

The State of the World’s Children 2021 calls on governments, and public and private sector partners, to commit, communicate and act to promote mental health for all children, adolescents and caregivers, protect those in need of help, and care for the most vulnerable, including: 

    • Urgent investment in gender-sensitive child and adolescent mental health across sectors, not just in health, to support a whole-of-society approach to prevention, promotion and care, to ensure availability and accessibility of basic quality mental health and psychosocial support services for all and specifically for vulnerable children and parents.

    • Integrating and scaling up evidence-based interventions across health, education and social protection and child protection sectors - including parenting programmes that promote responsive, nurturing caregiving and support parent and caregiver mental health; and ensuring schools support mental health through quality services and positive relationships.

    • Breaking the silence surrounding mental illness, through addressing stigma and promoting better understanding of mental health and taking seriously the experiences of children and young people.

    • Carry out studies to determine the needs of the most vulnerable groups with mental health problems and prioritize them in the government’s plans, policies and programs.

"Mental health is a part of physical health - we cannot afford to continue to view it as otherwise,” Fore said, adding that for far too long, in rich and poor countries alike, too little understanding and too little investment in a critical element of maximizing every child’s potential has been seen. "This needs to change."

Kathmandu Valley’s 50 per cent population vaccinated against Covid-19

Almost half the population of the Kathmandu Valley has been fully vaccinated.

According to the Health Ministry, some 50 per cent of the Kathmanduites has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. "Some 50 per cent of the targeted population in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts has been vaccinated with both the doses," the ministry confirmed, adding that 50 per cent of the population in the Valley has received the first dose of vaccine, while 48 per cent has received the full two doses. "While some 1,622,441 people have been given the first dose, some 1,562,734 people have been fully vaccinated."

Of the population of 3,247,558 in the Kathmandu Valley, the target is to immunise a population of some 2,129,773, who are above 18 years of age, the ministry added.

Some, 51.5 per cent of the target population have got the first dose of vaccine, while 48.7 per cent of the target population the full dose in Kathmandu district. Kathmandu District Public Health Office has been providing vaccination service against the coronavirus from 145 vaccination centres in Kathmandu district. Likewise, some 49.7 per cent of the target population has been given the first dose in Lalitpur, whereas some 45.4 per cent of the target population has got the full dose. The target population in Lalitpur district stands at some 382,860 and some 246,851 in Bhaktapur district.

In Bagmati Province, some 38.2 per cent of the population has got the first dose of the vaccines whereas some 35.3 per cent has already received both doses of jabs.

The government has targetted to vaccinate 33 per cent of the population in the country against Covid-19 by October 17, while, the government has preparing to vaccinate two-thirds of the total population by mid-January 2022 and all eligible citizens by mid-April 2022.

The government led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has prioritised the vaccination programme as its top priority.

According to the ministry, a total of 17.85 million doses of vaccine has already arrived in Nepal, and 12.95 million vaccines have already been administered. Nepal has been administering four types of vaccine that is Covishield, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Vero Cell. "The number of people getting the first dose of vaccine in the country has reached some 6,960,828, whereas the number of people getting both vaccines has reached some 6,205,770," according to the ministry.

Enrollment begins for Sanofi and GSK’s Phase 3 efficacy trial of Covid-19 vaccine candidate in Nepal, led by IVI

 Sanofi and GSK received approval for their Phase 3 clinical study in Nepal to assess the safety, efficacy and immunogenicityof their adjuvanted recombinant-protein Covid-19 vaccine candidate. The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) -- an international organisation dedicated to the discovery, development and delivery of safe, effective and affordable vaccines -- will conduct the Phase 3 clinical trial in Nepal, expecting to enroll 4,000 volunteers across 3 study sites in the country.

In addition to generating local data to support the global clinical trial, this Phase 3 study led by IVI will continue to build capacity and infrastructure for vaccine research and development in Nepal. As Covid-19 vaccination becomes available, study participants are encouraged to receive an approved Covid-19 vaccine during the study, if they wish to do so. As part of the study design, all participants including the control group will be offered the study vaccine as soon as it is determined to be safe and effective.

"Nepal is participating in Sanofi Pasteur’s pivotal Phase 3 study, and we have begun enrollment of study participants in the country," country head of Sanofi Pasteur India and South Asia Annapurna Das said, adding that they have partnered with International Vaccine Institute for the study in Nepal.

"As the virus continues to evolve, we are anticipating what will be needed in the coming months and years, and accordingly, have adapted our vaccine development programme," she said, adding that they believe their Covid-19 adjuvanted, recombinant vaccine can make a significant contribution to the ongoing fight against Covid-19 and are committed toinitiating ourclinical programin Nepal, at the earliest. "Achieving global immunity to end the Covid-19 pandemic requires an innovative generation of new vaccines that have been tested against circulating variants and that will be accessible to low-resource settings."

The company is pleased to partner with Sanofi Pasteur on this pivotal Phase 3 study in Nepal, particularly in light of our recent collaboration agreement with the Nepal Health Research Council earlier this year to strengthen public health in the region,” said deputy director general at IVI Dr Anh Wartel.

The primary endpoint of the study is the prevention of symptomatic Covid-19 in SARS-CoV-2 naïve adults, with secondary endpoints being the prevention of severe Covid-19 disease and prevention of asymptomatic infection.

In a two-stage approach, the study will initially investigate the efficacy of a vaccine formulation targeting the original virus strain (D.614), while a second stage will evaluate a second formulation targeting theBeta variant (B.1.351). Recent scientific evidence shows that antibodies created against the Beta variant may provide broad cross-protection against other more transmissible variants.

The design of the Phase 3 study, conducted across a broad diversity of geographies, also allows evaluation of the efficacy of the candidate against a variety of circulating variants. Sanofi and GSK will also run clinical studies to assess the ability of the adjuvanted recombinant-protein Covid-19 vaccine candidate to generate a strong booster response regardless of the type of vaccine initially received.

The Phase 3 study initiation follows the global interim Phase 2 results which showed that the adjuvanted recombinant Covid-19 vaccine candidate achieved high rates of neutralising antibody responses in all adult age groups, with 95 per cent to100 per cent seroconversion rates. After a single injection, high neutralizing antibody levels were also generated in participants with evidence of prior SARS.

Nepal opens up for tourists

 Nepal has resumed on-arrival visa services for foreigners.

According to a new protocol issued by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, now tourists can get on-arrival visa as Nepal reported a sharp decline in the new cases of Covid-19 in the past few weeks. The  new rule has also scrapped the mandatory requirement to stay in quarantine for 14 days in case of those, who have received both the doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

The new protocol was issued under the Infectious Disease Act (1964), after the Covid-19 Crisis Management Ordinance (2020), along with around a dozen ordinances, introduced by the government, became ineffective from September 16 when they failed to get through House within the constitutional deadline. The cabinet, on Monday, approved the new travel protocol under the old Infectious Disease Act. It will be effective from today, according to the Tourism Ministry.

According to the new protocol, all foreigners arriving in Nepal, however, will have to undergo antigen tests at the entry point. "They can directly go to their destinations without having to stay in mandatory quarantine, if they test negative for the virus," the protocol reads, "But those testing positive in the antigen tests are required to stay in a hotel until they test negative for the virus."

If the antigen test facility is not available at the border points, the visiting foreign nationals need to undergo such tests at their respective hotels, the protocol reads, adding that they are allowed to venture outside only after they have a negative PCR test report.

Likewise, Nepalis returning the country with both doses of Covid-19 vaccines can directly go to their homes. They, however, must produce a PCR negative test of Covid-19 taken 72 hours before their departure, the protocol adds.

"Indian nationals, who test negative for the virus can enter Nepal even if they have not received Covid-19 vaccines," it reads, adding that they must furnish PRC negative reports conducted within 72 hours before their arrival at Nepal's border. "They also need to fill up an online form available at the Central Covid-19 Crisis Management Center (CCMC) and produce a hard copy of the form upon their arrival at the border point."

Nepal’s decision to ease quarantine requirements and visa issuance has send a positive message to the international community, according to the travel and tourism entrepreneurs.