Germany hands 4.1 million vaccines to Nepal

The German government has handed over 4.1 million vaccines against the coronavirus to Nepal. The vaccine was handed over to Health and Population Minister Birodh Khatiwada by German Acting Ambassador to Nepal, Dr. Stefan Rusek, at a function organized at the Ministry today.

He handed over 4,142,250 doses of vaccine to Minister Khatiwada under the Covax facility. Of these, 21.76 million are Johnson & Johnson and 19.65 million are Moderna vaccines. At the handover ceremony, Minister Khatiwada said that the vaccine provided by Germany would help the government achieve its goal. Stating that the German government has been providing continuous support for the prevention and control of COVID-19 since its inception, he said that the vaccine provided today has added another brick to the bilateral relations between Nepal and the German government.

"The information provided regarding the testing of COVID-19 and the assistance provided for the management of health-related waste is also commendable," said Minister Khatiwada. He welcomed the German government's support for the introduction and institutionalization of health insurance in Nepal, the construction of hospitals and health institutions, the institutionalization of health information systems, and the strengthening of the overall health system.

Minister Khatiwada informed that the construction of hospitals in Gorkha, Jiri, and Ramechhap has been completed and handed over with the help of the German government under the post-earthquake reconstruction. Similarly, the German government is working on the initial phase of construction of Bhimeshwar Health Post in Dolakha, Jhaukhel Health Post in Bhaktapur, Sankhu Primary Hospital, and Melbisauni Health Post in Bajhang under the Recovery-2 program.

Similarly, construction work of maternal and child health building and staff building of Dadeldhura Hospital is underway and construction of satellite hospital in Tarkeshwar and Chandragiri municipalities under Philanthropic Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital is underway. The German government had provided a grant of 10 million euros to the government since the beginning of COVID-19. On the occasion, German Ambassador to Nepal Dr. Rusek said that the German government has been assisting Nepal in health and education and added that the vaccine would protect the Nepali people from the pandemic of COVID-19.

Ministry spokesperson Dr. Sangeeta Kaushal Mishra said that the Moderna vaccines would be given to children in the age group of 12 to 17 from December 19. According to Mishra, the government will provide vaccinations to school children of that age group in 57 districts. Similarly, Johnson & Johnson will be targeting other people who are going abroad.