23rd May 2020
The second virtual meeting of Nepali European Health Team was held on 23rd May 2020 with large number of health professionals of Nepali origin from around the Europe. The meeting was moderated by Dr Bodha Raj Subedi( Poland), coordinator of that team and by Dr Sunil Sah( UK), seniormost and experienced medical doctor in UK . This meeting was the continuity of first meeting of the team held on 10th May 2020.
The participients of the meeting were Dr Shambhu Acharya and Dr Sunil Sah from UK, Dr Bodha Raj Subedi and Dr Alini Pokharel-Subedi from Poland, Dr Suraj Thapa and Dr Dipak Sapkota from Norway, Mrs Sundari Lama ( Nurse) from Spain, Mr Jaya Prasad Siwakoti ( Health Assistant) from Slovakia, Dr Raju Adhikari and Mr Krishna Prasad Siwakoti( Nurse) from Swietzerland, Dr Prabal Pradhan from Russia, Mr Sagar Subedi( Nurse) from Austria, Mrs Chandrakala Niurala ( Nurse) from Ireland.
The special invited guest from Nepal was Dr Sandhya Chapagain who is also Executive Board Member of Nepal Medical Council and a popular Radiation Oncologist in Nepal( Bir Hospital, KTM) and Dr Uzzal Chalise , a Radiotherapeutist from Patan Oncology Hospital. Other guests were Dr Hemraj Sharma, the General Secretary of NRNA, Dr Sanjeeb Sapkota, Chairman of Global Health Committee of NRNA and Mr Narayan Acharya, Europe Regional Coordinator of NRNA. The meeting was also participated by medias persons : Mr Kejin Rai, President of Europe Section of FNJ, Mr Rabi Bhattarai and Drona Rijal, members of FNJ, Europe Section.
The meeting was wellcomed by Dr Sanjeeb Sapkota who accented on need of Nepali doctors’ coordinations, Nepali health concerns( prevention and treatment), on mentle health problems during COVID-19 pandemic period, need to form and activate the platform. Dr Hemraj Sharma informed particiepants about the work of High Level Committee( for example 3 X R programme- Relief, Repatriation and Rehabilitation), about the need to collaborate with international organizations like ILO or IOM. The role of proffesionals within NRNA should be increased- he said. Another guest Mr Narayan Acharya gave briffing of works been held in Europe Region. We should have work together and have common missions- he accented.
The most fruitfull discussions were held with active involvement of NMC member Dr Sandhya Chapagain, who informed about current health situation in Nepal, the cooperation between Nepal Government and Medical Council. Dr Sandhya Chapagain answered to many questions related to health conditin of Nepal during this epidemic period, raised by participants .
Dr Sunil Sah, who is actively involved to give health services to Nepali community in UK presented actual data of infected and death caused by COVID-19 in UK. He highlighted the early stages of the study which shows Nepali and other asian origin have been much more affected. The causes are mainly the health conditions of these people, they are fronline workers( high risky group) and associated diseaes with living style among others, he incisted. But more studies should be done for more details of the results.Dr Shambhu Acharya emphasied about healthy life of Nepali community ( for example vit. D deficiency) which we should have taken into account. He added that the reasons that Nepali community is suffering due to lack of PPE and poor economics.
Dr Suraj Thapa said that we need to come with agrndas which will be common grounds for all and to build a platform. Dr Prabal Pradhan updated about current situation in Russia. Mrs Sundari Lama updated the Nepalese conditions in Spain and ask whether we can help them from this group? Mr Jaya Prasad Siwakoti informed that Slovakia is the first European country declreaed as CoVID-19 free country. The smart quarrantine is more practicable in Slovakia.He emphasied that we will be thing about the psychological effects of post COVId-19 and showed himself readyness to team work. He raised the question that how we can participate more health proffessions to this group? Mr Sagar Subedi commented on Austria’s health system, more involvement of medias and live programs.
Dr Alini Pokharel -Subedi who is also Hegh Level Committee formed by NRNA member updated Nepalese cases in Poland. We should focus on other health problems( like Vit. D defficiency and Thyroid plroblems) among Nepales during this pandemic period, on repatriation from especially Middle East and India , where more Nepalese are in troubles. More she added that the future mutual cooperations between us will bring a huge benefits for Neplalese living in abroad and in Nepal.
Dr Bodha Raj Subedi, the coordinator of the team concluded the meeting with three poits: 1. Repatriation, the right of Nepali people should be controlled and plannego especially in health fielnd so that Nepal will not suffered by the disease.In this issue there should be good cooeration between the team members and and Nepali Governments with medical proffessions in Nepal, 2. This platform will give us a huge opportunities for exchange of experiences related to COVID-19 and 3. There will be futuire mutual cooerations in other fields . At last the media persons also gave thier view how this team can work for betterness of Nepali and Nepal. Mr Ravi Bhattarai said that the team should not be engaged giving datas but the real health problems of Nepali communiy and Nepal. It is to remind that the involvement of Dr sandhya Chapagain from NMC was possible by Dr Uzzal Chalise who inssures that in future more Nepali friends will be invited to the meeting like this in Future.
-Prepared by Dr Bodha Raj Subedi
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