Website last updated: 21/02/23
Electives were back in 2022
During 2022 we were able to successfully work with the Nepal Ambulance Service to provide a medical elective to 6 students. They spent time with the Emergency Medical Technicians where they learnt about providing care within a resource deprived environment. In addition to this, they also assisted in providing technical skills in auditing data from the records of transported patients. For more on Electives click here
photo credit Elite Joshi/TKP
Nepal Vaccination Drive
According to NAS president Ranjit Acharya, as of 30 January 2021 all NAS EMTs and drivers have been vaccinated via the Government's initiative to protect all frontline healthcare workers. Ranjit expressed great relief that all NAS ambulance personnel have received their first jabs. For more on Nepal's vaccination campaign see this Kathmandu Post Story.
Respirators for NAS Ambulances
Three NAS ambulances have been upgraded with respirator capacity thanks to a gift from the United States Agency for International Development. This is an especially welcomed contribution since NAS receives only limited financial support from government and rarely any aid from international donors.
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NAS president Ranjit Acharya has posted the following:
This indeed has helped us upgrade our service in Nepal Ambulance Service, now we have 3 ambulances with a ventilator. Thanks to USAID for this support to NAS 102. Saving lives along the way becomes more effective now.
UK Support Making a Significant Difference
Nepal Ambulance Service President Ranjit Acharya once again expressed his gratitude for the PPE support provided by FoNAS. NAS ambulance crews are managing to remain infection free despite regular and repeated contact with Covid-19 patients. Thank you donors.
A Cautious Reopening
Nepal Opens to Tourists Coming by Air
Nepal has thrown open the doors to foreign tourists after keeping them out for nine months as the country battled the Covid-19 pandemic.
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All tourist visas have been restored, and foreign visitors are now free to fly into the country, the Department of Immigration said, but the land borders are still closed.
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On-arrival visas will be provided at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu only to representatives and families of diplomatic missions, United Nations agencies, international organisations and non-resident Nepalis without any pre-approval letters and recommendations, the department said.
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“All foreigners should obtain a tourist visa from Nepali diplomatic missions abroad or they should have a pre-approval or recommendation letter from the concerned ministries for ensuring their ‘on-arrival’ visa at Kathmandu airport,” Ramesh Kumar KC, director general of the Department of Immigration, told the Post. Read the full story here.
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Our Covid-19 Response
NAS have seen a staggering increase in the amount of ambulance call-outs since the outbreak of the pandemic. NAS are now one of the key national Covid-19 response providers.
FoNAS donors have been instrumental in keeping NAS EMTs, drivers and their patients safe by providing funding for desperately needed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). So far FoNAS have committed £9,000 to safeguarding NAS operations.
NAS have transferred over 1200 confirmed positive Covid cases with a further 800 suspected. Despite this, remarkably no EMTs or NAS management have been infected thanks in large part to effective safety protocols and the PPE financed by FoNAS.
Your contributions are immensely important. Thank you donors! Read more about our Covid-19 response here.
Above is Friends of NAS Facebook appeal to help acquire desperately needed PPE for ambulance crews
Other Highlights
A Growing Problem ... An Infodemic!
Nepal Ambulance Service president Ranjit Acharya recently posted the above photo to his Facebook page. It references the growing problem in Nepal of threats, discrimination and even sometimes violence directed against healthcare workers throughout the country.
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The Nepali text reads:
" I am proud to serve the nation"
Thank You
Nepal Ambulance Service 102”
The stigmatisation and threats against medical workers involved in the fight against Covid-19 is a quite serious problem caused by misinformation and inflamed by irresponsible social media. The Kathmandu Post refers to the problem as an Infodemic. Read The Kathmandu Post story here.
Statistics March through mid August
Bus Accident and Landslide
While coronavirus cases in Nepal continue to rise at an alarming rate – increasing NAS call-outs significantly – regular ambulance runs still demand attention.
On 16 June NAS ambulances were summoned to Tribuwan International Airport to transport seriously injured patients involved in a bus accident at Bhairahawa. The patients were transferred to Grande International Hospital for treatment.
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Meanwhile on 3 July in rural Gulmi patients injured in a landslide were taken to Tribuwan Teaching Hospital and Birendra Sainik Hospital for further treatment. Patients suffered serious head injuries and multiple fractures.
5,000 Patients Served in April, May and June
In a Facebook post of 23 June Nepal Ambulance Service President Ranjit Acharya shared the above table.
Chaitra is March-April, Baisakh is April-May and Jestha is May-June
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Ranjit proudly says, "We served about 5000 patients during these 3 months of lockdown, and served about 600 people suspected with Covid19. Our service continues..."
Paramedics representing FoNAS spent 2 months in Nepal. Analysing data, teaching EMTs, helping with training exercises. Read more ...
Ambulance call-outs have increased steeply as NAS ambulances play a crucial role in transporting Covid-19 patients. Read more...
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