Rotary oxygen bank provides Covid care in Nepal

All the seven clubs in Pokhara, Nepal, came together to form a Covid task force after the ­second wave hit the Gandaki province and its neighbouring areas leading to a surge in ­casualties. “Many people lost lives due to shortage of ­medical oxygen and beds at the ­hospitals,” said PDG Kiran Lal Shrestha, RID 3292.

Project Jeevan ko Aasha was launched by the Pokhara clubs with an aim to start an oxygen cylinder bank. ­Rotarians collected cylinders from workshops and factories that were shut down during the lockdown with an assurance that they will be returned later.

In all, 350 oxygen cylinders, 125 concentrators and other medical accessories were ­distributed to ­various hospitals in Pokhara and other rural outpost with support from international partners such as RIDs 3523, 6250, 7080, Nepal China Friendship Association, Inner Wheel clubs, Rotary from Taiwan and Cao Zhong Zhi Foundation. RC Woodstock-Oxford, Canada, RID 7080, and RID 6250, Hawaii, US, supported the project, while RID 2540, Japan, helped in providing 200,000 masks.

“The cylinders, concentrators and other stocks were distributed through Rotary clubs and Rotarians to hospitals in and around Pokhara,” said Shrestha who coordinated with the clubs and took care of the ­logistics. A Rotary Manipal Covid ­Centre was also set up in partnership with the Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara.