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DOCKING NEPAL’S ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
HEALTH HEALTH The coronavirus or the (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak has affected almost all countries around the globe. With the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic, the world is in high alert and responding to contain and eliminate the outbreak. Nepal’s first case of the virus was reported on 23 January 2020, when a 32-year old male student returning from Wuhan, China was tested positive at Sukhraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Teku. Since then, the government has stressed on accelerating preventive and diagnostic strategies, testing, and hygiene education through mass media, 24-hour hotline services, social distancing, and contract tracing. The government has also sought out partnerships with local health bodies and other humanitarian assistance programs to formulate a high-level coordination mechanism to combat COVID-19 in the country. Yet, despite the government’s repeated attempt to contain the virus, infections are increasing at an alarming rate throughout the nation. In this backdrop, this review period highlights the obstacles that the health sector faced in their battle with the disease while identifying, diagnosing, and quarantining people in the country, and the government’s policy response to it. This section also underscores the effect of non-COVID-19 related ailments including possible dangers of pollution hazards and environmental changes on individuals across the nation. Increasing deaths due to brick pollution: As many as 600 people die
annually due to the excessive pollution arising from brick kilns in Nepal. The economic cost of the public health of the brick sector in Nepal is estimated at NPR 5.4 billion (USD 46 million) per year. Currently, a total of 1,600 brick kilns are operating in Nepal with an annual production of five billion bricks. Kathmandu Valley alone has around eight % of the total brick kilns in Nepal, with 122 brick kilns spread across the capital city. Despite such alarming figures, Nepal has less than one % market penetration of advanced and efficient technologies which includes Hoffman, Hybrid Hoffman (HHK), and Tunnel Kiln
(TK). In Kathmandu alone, brick kilns are responsible for approximately 28 % of total Particulate Matter 10 (PM 10) concentrates and contribute 40 % of Black Carbon (BC) in winter135. Lack of adequate investment and bank financing, low levels of human capital and know-how, weak or absent regulation, oversight, poor working conditions and wages; and largely stalled transition to higher-quality products have been cited as the major barriers towards modernization and improvement of the brick sector in Nepal. A mental health epidemic looms over Nepal: The number of Nepali’s
suffering from mental health issues
has increased steadily due to lack of treatment and counseling facilities during the lockdown. A recent survey conducted by Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO) Nepal and Sharecast Initiative during the lockdown period, where over 1,500 Nepali’s participated, showed that over 42 % of them suffered from at least one psychosocial problem, and another 26 % suffered from two or more136. Moreover, 15 % of respondents admitted to using alcohol and substance abuse to cope up with the current uncertainty. These problems were more frequent among women, students stressed about postponed exams, people whose businesses were impacted by
