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Nepal will be receiving 1.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines (for booster dose) from the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) next month. According to the government, the GAVI has confirmed dispense of such quantity of vaccine to Nepal on February 2. As the Family Welfare Division, Department of Health Services said, the vaccines will be arriving in the first week of February. Division Chief Sagar Dahal said in response to a letter that Nepal wrote to the GAVI on December 29 asking it for the supplies of vaccines for the administration of booster dose, the second party promises the supplies from the United States of America under the COVAX facility. Nepal decided to request the Gavi for fresh supplies of vaccines bearing in mind increasing risk of COVID-19 infection. It will be getting Pfizer vaccines to administer booster dose following the Department of Drugs Administration (DDA)’s approval for the ‘emergency use’ for booster dose. The Ministry has urged one and all those getting the booster dose earlier to receive it in the aftermath of increasing case of FB.7, the sub-variant of Omicron virus in neighbouring India and China. Similarly, the Ministry has urged one and all to follow the health protocols: use of face mask, observation of physical distancing, hand wash with soap and water and regular use of sanitizer regularly as preventive measures against the virus.

Dr Om Murti Anil has made good use of social media platforms through his informative videos on health. Making videos and putting them online was a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was a solution he came up with to answer the queries from his patients and viewers. The 44-year-old senior cardiologist at the National Cardiac Center began his online journey 10 years ago, and over the years, his viewership has grown by leaps and bounds. “Most of my patients had similar queries and I would have to repeat the same thing over and over again. So, I thought to myself why not make an informative video and put it online,” says Dr Anil. He didn’t have many viewers at first, but that changed over time. Dr Anil knew people would soon be using online platforms as a source of information. As a full-time cardiologist, Dr Anil is a busy person. Throughout the day, he is busy attending to his patients. But he makes it a point of connecting with his viewers through his videos. He utilizes the time in between seeing his patients or in the evening after work to make video contents. “I find the experience rewarding,” he says. “I am helping people even outside my clinic.” Many people have visited Dr Anil after watching his videos. Although he doesn’t mention where he works, he says, his viewers somehow find him. Of course, when they visit him, they are visiting as patients. Dr Anil finds ideas for most of his video content based on the queries posted by his viewers on the comment section. He tries to find the best way that answers most of the questions, and in many instances, he says, his viewers want information on common topics. These days he also creates content focusing on diet and nutrition, recipes, and which food to eat if someone has a certain nutritional deficiency. Such videos are aimed at giving his viewers a basic idea on how they can lead a healthy lifestyle. Dr Anil has also diversified his content broadcast by adopting other online media platforms. He tries to remain consistent with his postings, but there are sometimes when his busy schedule keeps him from making new contents. “I do fall back sometimes but my goal is to be consistent, always,” he says. “If I don’t post the videos, my viewers and patients start asking questions as to why I have not been active on social media.” His viewers keep him motivated. “I’m not making any money. I do it out of passion and for my viewers, whom I can help,” he adds. For this work, Dr Anil has been nominated for the Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion. It is an award given by the World Health Organization to someone who has had a significant impact on health sectors in their country. “I never did it for the awards or praises, but it feels good to be recognized,” he says. Dr Anil says he will continue to post health-related videos for as long as he can. “As a doctor, it is satisfying to know that I have been able to spread my knowledge beyond my clinic.”  

Two persons died and two other sustained inquiries when a fire broke out at a house in Phidim Municipality-5, Ghumaunetar of Panchthar district in the wee hours of Wednesday. DSP Hari Khatiwada of the District Police Office, Panchthar said that the fire belonging to one Megh Bahadur Gurung was destroyed in the fire that occurred at around 1:30 am today. The deceased have been identified as Gurung’s daughter-in-law Asang Singh Thebe (23) and daughter Mamata Gurung (22). Police said that Megh Bahadur and Bijendra Gurung were injured in the incident. It has been learnt that property worth around Rs 5 million was destroyed in the fire. The reason behind the fire was electric short circuit. The fire was taken under control with the help of police personnel and locals after three hours.

Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) Project Implementation Directorate has been constructing 796 kilometers distribution network for the supply of Melamchi drinking water in the second phase. Spokesperson of the Directorate, Chandra Kumar Pan Shrestha, told RSS that out of 796 km distribution being constructed at Baluwatar, Swoyambhu, Mandikhatar and Kapan area, construction of 427 km has already been completed. The remaining work would be completed within the end of the current fiscal year, he added. Four construction companies have been constructing distribution network. Second phase of 796 km distribution network is under construction at a cost of Rs 7.36 billion. The Directorate has already constructed 1,110 km distribution network in the first phase.