Handover of Medical Equipment to Bir Hospital

As the world is combating to overcome the global pandemic, the Covid-19 virus hit Nepal hard with first and the second wave. The rapidly increasing infections during these waves had put a massive burden on the already strained health system of the country. Most of the hospitals were overflowing with Covid-19 patients and had insufficient beds, medicines, and health equipment. Although the Covid-19 cases are declining in recent days, there is a probability of new wave putting the hospitals in burden. Hence, with the purpose to fight against Covid-19 pandemic and prepare the hospital to combat the potential new wave, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in financial support of Australian Government has been supporting public hospitals with medical equipment and logistic supports.

In this juncture, LWF/DFAT has provided medical equipment to Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal one of the oldest hospitals which is accessible to the general public from all over the country. The hospital has also opened a new wing ‘Covid-19 Unified Hospital’ and has been established as the first central command structure at the federal level to deliver a timely and well-coordinated Covid-19 response in the country.

On behalf of Australian Government/DFAT and LWF, the Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal, Her Excellency Felicity Volk, handed over medical equipment approximately NPR. 4.2 million worth to Prof Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Basnet, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. The equipment included ICU and Emergency Electric Fowlers Beds along with its accessories. The medical equipment provided to hospital have been used to set up an emergency ward in the hospital to better respond and prepare to provide quality and uninterrupted health care to the general population.