Reflecting COVID-19’s Impacts on Environmental Health

Prepared by: Ms. Sushama Sharma, Member, PP Batch III

On 26th June 2020, Paschim Paaila in collaboration with Environment and public Health Organization (ENPHO) organized sharing and discussion program on "COVID-19 and Environmental Health” through zoom platform. The main objective of sharing and discussion program was to share the impacts of COVID-19 observed in the environment and human health as a whole, as well as to sensitize and motivate youths on the intervention of faeco-oral and other WASH related communicable diseases.

Mr. Ravindra Pandeya, Director, The Green Move Consultancy Pvt. Ltd., resided as facilitator of the program. In the program, Mr. Pandeya reflected on positive impacts of COVID-19 in environmental health and included scenario of biodiversity as well. Mr. Pandeya shared about the environmental burden of diseases and the cultural evolution from hunter-gatherers to industrial era, the shifting paradigm of nature. Also, the reflection on the change to expect after COVID-19 were highlighted as such change on CO₂ emission and the roles of youth in bringing the positive change for reduction of CO₂ emission.

In order to make the program fruitful, discussion was done through question and answer session. Participants also shared their views in regard to topic. More than 27 participated in the program of different educational background.

Talks on Climate Change Crisis and COVID-19 on the occasion of World Environment Day

Prepared by: Mr. Amrit Bista, Member, PP Batch III

Paschim Paaila and ENPHO, on the occasion of World Environment Day, jointly organized 7^th series of WASH FORUM Reloaded (WFR) on “Climate Change Crisis to LDCs amidst COVID-19” on 4 June 2020 on zoom meeting platform. The 7^th series of WFR was organized with an objective to share information about climate change crisis to Least Development Countries (LDCs) amidst COVID-19 with a focus on vulnerabilities of climate change to LDCs during and after this COVID-19 pandemic and possible solutions as opportunities.

Mr. Manjeet Dhakal, Head, LDC Support Team at Climate Analytics resided as resource person in the program. During the program, multiple crises facing by vulnerable countries due to COVID-19, the current context of climate change in the world and Nepal and its worsening impacts, implication for LDC graduation and about switch to clean energy were shared. Resource person also highlighted on ongoing initiative to combat climate change, climate action momentum and functional expenditure estimates in different Fiscal year for environment protection in Nepal. He also insisted that COVID-19 should be taken as opportunity and shared that lesson learnt while treating COVID-19 pandemic as an emergency helps to tackle climate change with a similar level of international coordination.

More than 35 participants attended session of WFR on zoom platform and put forward queries during Q/A session. Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila, closed the session with vote of thanks to the resource person and all participants.

Orientation on Basic WASH Intervention and Water Quality

Prepared by: Mr. Sagar Gosai, Member, PP Batch III

On 3^rd June, 2020, Paschim Paaila and ENPHO in collaboration with Leo Club of Kathmandu Tudaldevi organized an orientation program on ‘Basic WASH Intervention and Water Quality’ through Zoom platform. The program was organized with an objective to share youths about basic information regarding Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), water quality and COVID-19.

The orientation highlighted on basic information of WASH including water quality, water-borne diseases, household methods of water purification, status of water, sanitation and hygiene in context of the world and Nepal, diseases transmission route, food hygiene, menstrual hygiene, critical times of handwashing, importance of handwashing for COVID-19 prevention. The online session was interactive and participatory with question and answer session.

Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila, Ms. Sushma Sharma and Mr. Amrit Bista, Member of PP Batch III facilitated the sessions of the orientation. Leo Sandeep Baniya, Persident of the club gave an introductory note and Leo Sangita Ghimire, Program Coordinator for the event facilitated the overall program. Leo Dinesh Giri, Charter President, gave vote of thanks to session facilitators and all participants with a word for future collaboration with Paschim Paaila.

Altogether 40 youths from Leo Club of Kathmandu Tudaldevi and Paschim Paaila attended the orientation.