Pandemic Aid for the People of Mahakulung, Nepal

Aim

To provide health workers with equipment to fight the corona pandemic and support Everest tourism porters in the Mahakulung region of Nepal

Campaign Background

The Mahakulung Rural Municipality (located on the southern slopes of Mt. Everest) of Nepal has three health posts.  Two in the villages of Chheskam and Gudel, and one newly established community hospital in Bung.  The Federal Government of Nepal has however focused its efforts on hospitals around the city areas of the country.  As such, these health posts (which are in a very remote and not easily assessable region) have been left woefully unprepared to cope with the corona virus due to a lack of PPE and other safety equipment.

The Mahakulung Municipality of Eastern Nepal.

The global pandemic has also led to Nepal having to abandon its ‘Visit Nepal 2020’ campaign and call a halt to all trekking in the Himalayan mountains.  A significant number of individuals in the Mahakulung Manicipality, work as porters in the Everest and surrounding regions.  The loss of Everest tourism, and indeed all trekking tourism in Nepal, has caused these porters to lose their livelihoods and main income for the whole year.  With the lockdown having now been in effect for over 3 months in Nepal, these porters are now beginning to experience severe food crisis and have been left unable to support their families.

Newly managed 25-bed quarantine facility in Mahakulung.

Objectives

With the number of corona cases increasing exponentially in Nepal, and the virus having been identified near to the Mahakulung Rural Municipality, there exists a potential severe humanitarian crisis, as health professionals in the region lack the tools to fight the virus, and families who have lost their income face food crisis.

New Futures Nepal, in conjunction with Everest Mera Foundation (EMF) on the ground in Nepal (a Nepali NGO which operates in the region and have the capacity to source the required aid and transport it to where it is needed. https://www.emerafoundation.org/), aims to provide aid (in the form PPE and food) to the people of Mahakulung Municipality, who will be particularly vulnerable during the on-going pandemic.  

Mahakulung locals, MBBS doctor, Mayor, and EMF representative (Dilip S. Kulung) at Mahakulung Community Hospital.

The objectives of this collaboration are therefore:

• To provide health workers at the Mahakulung health centres with adequate PPE and safety equipment to help in their plight against the corona virus.
• To support the Everest tourism porters and their families, who face severe food crisis. 
• To raise awareness of covid-19 at a public level in the Mahakulung Rural Municipality. 

How Can I Help?

We are conscious that supporters will be aware of their ability to give during these uncertain times.  We have therefore decided to take a crowdfunding approach to generate restricted funds for this campaign.  Allowing donators to give as much as they feel comfortable with when they feel comfortable doing so.

Below is a list of the items (with current cost in Nepal) which EMF are looking to provide the rural people of this region.  You can use this as a guide to what you donate, knowing that your contribution will go towards this much needed food and equipment.

Protective Gowns: £12 each

Protective Goggles: £3 each

Protective Face Shield: £5 each

Protective Gloves: 70p each

Safety Rubber Boots: £4 each

N95 Masks: £1.40 each

500ml 75% Alcohol Sanitizer Bottles: £4 each

STHT0-77365 Infrared Thermometer: £50 each

Transportation cost: £445

Food items for tourism porter’s family for 2 weeks: £28 per family

New Futures Nepal and the Everest Mera Foundation sincerely thank you for your generosity.

This project successfully funded on 21st July 2020