Kathmandu: Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) has recommended the government to target lockdown policies based on the tradeoff between overall well-being and risk of transmission stating that severe lockdowns are not always necessary to slow the spread of the virus.
In policy document prepared by an IIDS Policy Advisory Working Group on Covid-19 as Nepal reels under the deadly second wave of the pandemic, the independent, non-partisan, and not-for-profit think-tank stated that severe lockdowns may have adverse consequences on society, including through negative effects on the livelihoods of economically vulnerable populations.
As of Tuesday morning, lockdowns and prohibitory orders have been enforced in 75 out of 77 districts in Nepal including three districts in Kathmandu Valley in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus.
It has recommended the government allow individuals who have received a positive PCR/antigen test and recovered from Covid symptoms to travel and walk outdoors and carry out their business, as needed, two weeks from receiving the test result for a period of up to three months from the test, restaurants and cafes to open for takeout, and outdoor dining and grocery and other essential needs stores to open for more than two or three hours a day.
On medical delivery regulation, it has recommended that the federal government decentralize policy implementation, service delivery, and information gathering, and provide incentives to districts, local government offices, and wards.
The document recommends that the federal government decentralize policy implementation, service delivery, and information gathering, and provide incentives to districts, local government offices, and wards.
“Locally elected ward officials should be incentivized and resourced adequately to undertake community-level mass testing, tracing and isolating. We recommend that they mobilize the well-established networks of the 50,000-plus Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHV), 250,000-plus community school teachers, and where applicable local youth clubs, “aama samuhas” and other similar groups,” reads the report.
Stating that it is important for the federal government to address inequities in healthcare access across regions, the think-tank further said that decentralization can help address these inequities, but care should be taken to improve healthcare access in rural and remote areas.
The document has recommended that healthcare providers use antigen testing more widely.
“We recommend that the government try to procure antigen test kits in large numbers and make them available through ward offices, especially to people in remote areas with little to no access to tests. Outdoor mobile testing booths/tents should be set up, weather permitting. In general, healthcare delivery should take place outdoors to the extent possible, to reduce the risk that healthcare facilities become superspreader sites,” the report added.
The document has recommended that healthcare providers use antigen testing more widely.
On testing, it has further recommended that the government conduct random testing and pooled testing and offer free testing to the poorest populations that cannot afford frequent testing, and if possible offer free testing to the whole population.
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