Switzerland hands over 144,000 AstraZeneca vaccines to Nepal

Swiss Ambassador to Nepal Elisabeth von Capeller (R) hands over vaccines to Health Secretary Dr Roshan Pokharel. (Photo: Swiss Embassy)

NL Today

  • Read Time < 1

Kathmandu: Switzerland has provided 144,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to Nepal through the COVAX facility.

Swiss Ambassador to Nepal Elisabeth von Capeller handed over the vaccines to Secretary of Ministry of Health and Population Dr Roshan Pokharel at an event at the Ministry on Thursday.

Ambassador Capeller said that the vaccine support is a reiteration of Switzerland’s 62 years of friendship and solidarity towards Nepal.

“These vaccines will not only help save lives but also support in the socio-economic recovery of the Nepali people,” she added. “The cooperation and coordination of the Government of Nepal and all the international organizations such as WHO, GAVI, CEPI and UNICEF have been commendable to achieve this.”

Till date, Switzerland has allocated a total of USD 20 million to the Covid-19 response in Nepal. (Photo: Swiss Embassy in Kathmandu.)

Since April 2020, Switzerland has supported Nepal with PCR testing kits, ventilators, oxygen concentrators, most essential medical supplies, the installment of safe healthcare waste management and clean drinking water systems in two hospitals of Province 1.

Till date, Switzerland has allocated a total of USD 20 million to the Covid-19 response in Nepal, according to a statement by the Swiss Embassy in Kathmandu.

Switzerland will continue to support the efforts of the Government of Nepal in the prevention of Covid-19 and socio-economic recovery of the Nepali people from the pandemic, reads the statement.