Safe Transportation to curb COVID transmission
The safe transportation facility has not only helped the stranded returnees including women, children and elderly to reach designated isolation centers but also contributed to minimize the risks of spreading the virus into communities.
“When I was tested COVID positive in a rapid antigen test at the health desk in Kailali, I could not believe myself. I was worried about my health. I was equally stressed that I could transmit the virus to other people. Later, I found that there was a special arrangement to transport people like me to an isolation center. It was indeed a big relief. I got into the bus and was transported safely,” said Rita Thagunna, 21, who returned from India in early 2021 when the second wave was climbing up.
After the second wave of COVID-19 hit globally, thousands of Nepali migrant returnees who depended on neighboring country India for employment and livelihood started to travel back to Nepal crossing the Nepal-India border from the entry points. Over 95,000 migrants were recorded as of July 2021 at four points of entry in Sudurpaschim. Gauriphanta, one of the major and largest points of entry in Sudurpachim, recorded over 70,000 returnees.
With the increment of the COVID cases, the government authorities have been screening the returnees at the border entry points using random antigen tests, with more than 15% testing positive. This number has now declined with fewer people crossing the border.
Safe transportation of those returnees who are COVID positive was a big challenge. They needed to be isolated from other passengers as they traveled from the border entry points to the designated isolation center. After a joint assessment by the District Crisis Coordination Management Center (DCCMC), Health Office and the UN team, it was identified that there should be a dedicated bus service to transfer them from the border to the isolation center. In the leadership of the Health Office, Kailali and in coordination with other UN agencies, UNDP supported a bus service, which is currently providing safe transportation to the India returnees. As of now, 800 returnees who are tested positive to antigen have been safely transported.
“With a dedicated bus service, it has been easier to separately transport returnees tested positive to antigen and have reduced the risks of further COVID transmission to the community,” said Ganesh Saud, Health worker/Incharge of the health desk at Gauriphanta.
The health desk randomly selects and conducts antigen tests to around 100 people and on average 20 people turn out to be positive.
Lalit Dhami, Head of District Health Office said, “Antigen tests are expedited with the increment of COVID cases. After a dedicated bus service, COVID positive people are not moving around and mixing up with others anymore as they are sent to designated isolation centres as soon as possible”.
The driver of the bus, Ramu Chaudhary shared, “Earlier, I was scared of being infected, but after receiving counseling and protective gears, I am now encouraged to serve more. It feels good that I have been supporting to curb the transmission”.
Earlier in 2020, UNDP Nepal supported similar transportation service for over 1000 stranded returnees to reach holding centers from the border entry point at Gauriphanta. In early 2021, UNDP handed over 8000 antigen test kit to Sudurpaschim Province to help local authorities in their efforts to improve the screening service at the border entry points.
Story by Satish Pandey/UNDP Nepal
