Nepal Red Cross and The Coca-Cola Foundation’s joint efforts to support the healthcare sector and vaccination drive

 Kathmandu,  August 9.  Nepal Red-Cross Society (NRCS)has partnered with The Coca-Cola Foundation in Nepal to heighten the safety of frontline health workers and volunteers who are assisting patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnershipalso aims to mobilize NRCSvolunteersto the vaccination centers led by the Government of Nepal and to provide transportation facilities for the physically challenged individuals in the age group for vaccination.

In this regard, a handover ceremony was held at Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj on August 3^rd where Dr. ManitaRajkarnikar, Director, NERESO Health Services Department along with representatives from Coca-Cola Nepal handed over safety materials to Dr. Ramesh Maharnank of Teaching Hospital.

Personal safety items have been distributed to health professionals at the Teaching Hospital, Armed Forces in Balambu, Patan Hospital, Janamaitri Hospital and Nepal Medical Association as part of the partnership project. The distribution includes 12,500 surgical masks, 5,000 pairs of gloves, and 960 bottles of sanitizer.

Furthermore, the joint initiation has been carried out in 10 districts across Nepal where over 31,000 beneficiaries have been reached from the vaccination centers run by the Government of Nepal. The campaign has taken place mainly in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Chitwan, and Dhading districts of Bagmati province, as well as Kaski, Tanahu, Gorkha, Lamjung, and East Nawalparasi districts of Gandaki province.

The Nepal Red Cross blood transfusion service technicians, health workers, and ambulance are also part of the beneficiaries who will receive the support materials.

Dr. ManitaRajkarnikar, Director, Department of Health Services, Nepal Red Cross shared, “This collaboration between the Nepal Red Cross and The Coca-Cola Foundation aims to contain the spread of Coronavirus and safeguard frontline health professionals and volunteers, as well as to embody the Stop the Spread Campaign.”

The collaboration with NRCS is part of Coca-Cola’s ‘Stop the Spread’ campaign which was announced earlier this year, pledging an initial contribution of NPR 2.4 Crores towards facilitating vaccination, providing safety kit and creating awareness programs to help stop the spread of Covid-19 in Nepal.