Data crucial to address long-term impact of COVID-19

TRN Online, Kathmandu, Aug 27: Stakeholders have stressed the significance of collecting exact statistics about the vulnerable groups coping with the long-term effects of COVID-19.

At a policy-focused discussion programme organised by the Forum for Nation Building (FNB) Nepal, the stakeholders discussed the importance of having reliable and comprehensive data about the people and communities that have been severely affected by the pandemic's long-term effects in order to develop strong policies and effective programmes.

The discussion was held into multifaceted dimensions, exploring the effects of the pandemic across diverse sectors. It also covered crucial discussions on formulating essential policies for potential future pandemics, strategies to curtail disaster risks, and the formulation of proactive measures for addressing forthcoming outbreaks similar to the COVID-19 crisis. 

Nirmal Kumar Upreti, the President of the FNB-Nepal, said that the refined policies are essential to dealing with any kind of future challenge. He explained the initiatives undertaken by the organisation and shed light on the ongoing endeavours aimed at refining policies to better address future challenges.

The programme brought together representatives from various ministries. The government officials also highlighted their roles during the pandemic and expressed their current perspective on the heightened significance of pandemic preparedness and response strategies.

On the occasion, Dhruba Bahadur Khadka, Deputy Secretary of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, highlighted the institution's proactive approach towards mitigating other risks, not just pandemics like COVID-19.

The discussion was held with the participation of numerous stakeholders, including non-governmental organisations, diplomatic missions, and journalists from national media outlets.