Kathmandu – In partnership with the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Government of Nepal (GoN) held ‘Project Completion and Lessons Learned Sharing Event’ in Kathmandu on March 03 that showcased the key achievements of the “Effective Case Management by Strengthening Isolation Centres and Ground Crossing Points (GCPs) management for Rapid Response and Preparedness against COVID-19" project.

The activity implemented by IOM supported the Government of Nepal in improving capacity of ground-crossing points with the aim to assist the local and provincial authorities in the targeted locations in addressing the identified gaps and concerns related to the health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and protection. The initiative also attempted to strengthen the overall management at entry points, while promoting safe, orderly and dignified migration to support the Government of Nepal’s effort.

The Government of Nepal’s active engagement and leadership across the federal, provincial and local levels were critical to ensuring the success of multi-sectoral interventions, namely, health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and protection, and ensuring access to the health, WASH and protection services for the beneficiaries.

‘The Government of Nepal is dedicated to strengthening the public health system and in technical partnership with IOM, Epidemiology and Disease Control Division is drafting a Public Health Emergency Contingency Plan. To enhance access to services for the beneficiaries, the Government of Nepal has been working with IOM at the health desks at six ground crossing points across Nepal-India border. The efforts and activities to assist people on the move in past eighteen months needs to be increased to reach larger group of beneficiaries’, Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Dr. Chuman Lal Das stated.

The EU Ambassador to Nepal, H.E. Nona Deprez, stated, ‘I would like to congratulate and express my gratitude to all those who have been engaged in the project for past 18 months to provide assistance to the migrants. The project has provisioned for basic facilities at the six ground crossing points such as safe waiting space, drinking water, solar electricity, WI-FI, human resource, medical supplies and screening and referral mechanism to address protection concerns. Migrants are hardworking individuals who contribute to the national economy. I would like to thank Ministry of Health and Population, Department of Health Service, Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, provincial and local governments, staffs from health desks and partners who have supported IOM for the successful completion of the project.’

“Ensuring the access to services for the people remains IOM’s priority to promote safe, orderly and dignified migration. In our project, we remain dedicated to supporting the Government of Nepal’s effort in strengthening the public health system and increasing access to essential medical services to every With the project, IOM has been able to support the front-line workers at the ground-crossing points for rapid response and preparedness against COVID-19 whilst increasing migrants’ access to health, WASH and protection related services while being on the move to ensure safe, orderly and dignified migration journey,” said the IOM Chief Migration Officer for Nepal Anup Das Kanti.

During the event, IOM extended its gratitude to the Government of Nepal for their partnership and support, which enabled the Organization to further the shared mission of strengthening the public health system.

IOM also thanked the Ministry of Health and Population, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, the various municipalities, and the health desks in targeted locations across Province 1, Madhesh, Lumbini and Sudurpaschim Provinces for their support in implementation and coordination for the project.

For more information, please contact Project Lead, Uma Nepal at: +977 980 116 5334, Email: unepal@iom.int