May 22: Switzerland has sent a consignment of essential medical supplies worth $8 million to Nepal in response to request from the Government of Nepal for the assistance in combatting the second wave of Covid-19. 

Swiss Ambassador to Nepal Elisabeth von Capeller handed over medical supplies to Minister for Health and Population Hridayesh Tripathi on Saturday.

The 30-tonne shipment that arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday in a special cargo flight contains 40 ventilators, oxygen concentrators, 1.1 million rapid antigen tests and protective equipment (110’000 KN95 masks, 50’000 gloves and 15’000 suits) medical assitance includes ventilators, oxygen concentrators and protective equipment, according to the Embassy of Switzerland in Nepal. 

Issuing a statement, the Swiss Embassy said that the current shipment of essential medical supplies is part of Switzerland’s comprehensive response to COVID-19 in Nepal, which started in April 2020.

Till date, Switzerland has allocated a total of USD 20 million to the COVID-19 response in Nepal, said the Embassy in its statement. 

The ventilators, oxygen concentrators and protective equipment will reinforce the response of various hospitals in Nepal, whereas the antigen tests will allow for better monitoring and controlling of the spread of the virus, e.g. through rapid health screening, community level surveillance and early isolation of patients, according to the statement. 

 “Switzerland stands in solidarity with Nepal and the Nepali people in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. These essential medical supplies will save lives and provide further support to the Government of Nepal to control and contain the pandemic”, the statement quoted Elisabeth von Capeller, Swiss Ambassador to Nepal, as saying.

The Swiss Embassy has adapted its existing projects to ensure continuation of services during the COVID-19 pandemic and supported stranded migrants who lost their jobs in the destination countries with shelter, food, medical assistance, legal counselling and assistance for return, according to the statement.