Barbara Adams Talk Series VII: COVID19: Addressing Risk Preparedness In Public Health and The Economy

The seventh episode of the Barbara Adams Talk Series was organized on March 24, 2020 on the issues of COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in crises in health, economy and almost every aspect of society in over 170 countries across the globe, resulting in thousands deaths to date.

The program titled “COVID19: Addressing Risk Preparedness In Public Health and The Economy” was organized in the wake of the WHO warning that the South Asian countries including Nepal face great threats of the pandemic in the near future with grave consequences in its public health and economy.

Owing to the pandemic and the consequent lockdown of Nepal and the need to maintain social distancing, this edition of the Talk Series took a unique format of online conference. Uptrendly Nepal was the partner organizer of the talk program.

The esteemed panel guests of this talk series were renowned ophthalmologist and Chairperson of Barbara Foundation Prof. Dr. Sanduk Ruit; Former VC, National Planning Commission and Executive Chair of IIDS Dr. Swarnim Wagle; President of Hotel Association Nepal Mrs. Shreejana Rana; Physician of Infectious Disease at Hams Hospital Dr. Anup Subedee; and Miss Nepal World 2010 and Social Mobilizer Ms. Sadichha Shrestha. The talk was moderated by TV personality Mr. Bhushan Dahal.

In this context where the government has announced a series of stringent measures in its efforts to control the spread of the COVID-19, including a weeklong lockdown that will most likely be extended, the panelists deliberated on important aspects of this crisis with special emphasis on creating awareness on and providing crucial inputs/suggestions to the general public, the governmental bodies and businesses on the ways to tackle and minimize the risks of the pandemic on public health and economy. The discussion explored the questions such as: How is COVID-19 affecting Nepal? How it could potentially affect the healthcare system? How is the government preparation to face the potential situation? And how its response should be on health and economy? What should be the potential role of the general public to avert the crises and minimize risks? How should the businesses respond? How should the government respond to threats on economy?

Follow this link to watch the video: