Publication: Air Medical Evacuation of Nepalese Citizen During Epidemic of COVID-19 from Wuhan to Nepal
Date
2020
Article Type
Short Communication
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
JNMA Print ISSN: 0028-2715; Online ISSN: 1815-672X
Volume Title
Pages
Pages: 125 - 133
Publisher
Nepal Medical Association
Abstract
Abstract
In December 2019, the world was disrupted by the news of a new strain of virus known as Novel Corona virus, taking lives of many in China. Wuhan, the capital of Central China’s Hubei province is said to be the place where the outbreak started. The city went on a lockdown as the disease spread rapidly. After the lockdown, most countries like India and Bangladesh airlifted their citizens who were studying in Wuhan. Similarly, Nepal also has many youth studying medicine in Wuhan. Pleas for help from the students reached the government. This was a first encounter of such experience for Nepal government. With the help of Health Emergency Organizing committee, Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Nepal Army Hospital, Nepal Police Hospital, Waste Management team, Nepal Ambulance service, Tribhuwan Airport and Royal Airlines the government of Nepal planned, organized and successfully brought back all the 175 students on 15 the February, 2019 from Wuhan, China. The aim of the present article is to share the experience, the challenges faced and recommendations for future similar cases.
Keywords: evacuation; Nepal; Novel Corona virus; Wuhan.
Description
Bibek Rajbhandari
Department of Emergency and General Practice, Nepal Police Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
Naveen Phuyal
Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal
Bikal Shrestha
Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal
Moon Thapa
Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal
Keywords
evacuation, Nepal, Novel Corona virus, Wuhan
Identifier
https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.4857