After the successful completion of the first webinar ‘Fighting COVID19: Experiences and knowledge exchange from the frontliners’, The Small Earth Nepal (SEN) and the Rotary Club (RC) of Kathmandu jointly hosted the second webinar on 21st January 2021 to reach out to the general public to provide awareness regarding facts, myths, fallacies and misconceptions around COVID-19. Moderated by Rtn. Mona Adhikari (Assistant Governor ZONE 9 of RC Kathmandu), the webinar began with a welcome speech by Ms. Aashna Shakya (Research Associate at SEN) and Chief Guest Rtn. Kiran Lal Shrestha (Immediate Past District Governor).
Dr. Prabhat Adhikari (Co-founder and CEO of Danphe) presented detailed information about COVID-19 disease based on its related science, data, and facts. Dr. Adhikari stressed the urgent need for the national efforts on activating the emergency response mechanisms and upgrading hospitals to become prepared to effectively fight the pandemic.
Mr. Maheswor Mulmi (former captain and coach of the national football team, and founder member of the New Road team) shared his journey of covid-19 infection, hospitalization, and recovery with consultations and initial intervention by Dr. Bishal Pradhanang (Senior Respiratory Care Practitioner at the Yale-New Haven Health- Lawrence and Memorial Hospital). Mr. Mulmi, Dr. Sunil Acharya (Assistant Professor at CDHM, Tribhuvan University), Ms. Sunita Dangol (Miss Newa 2011 and a media person) shared their experiences as COVID-19 victims who underwent mild forms of illness such as flu, low fever, body ache, cough, and fatigue to severe symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, decrease in oxygen levels, and persistent stress.
Focusing on the severe mental impacts of the pandemic, Dr. Pradeep Pandey (Neuropsychiatrist and Rotarian at RC Kathmandu) pinpointed the importance of yoga, physical exercises, and meditation to increase our mental strength to deal with these difficult times.
The webinar was gracefully concluded by closing remarks of the Chair Rtn. Tirtha Raj Dahal (President of RC Kathmandu) and Prof. Suresh Raj Chalise (Rotarian, RC of Kathmandu and advisor to SEN).
