The book titled “Cities Under COVID-19: A Systems Perspective” analyses how the cities of 15 countries countered the pandemic using a varied approach and explains differences in public groups to address knowledge gaps and scientific uncertainty.
GlohMed investigator Dr. Suraj Bhattarai contributed a chapter to this book- “NEPAL: COVID-19 Response in Biratnagar” (available at: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-19-8163-0_11). The chapter highlights key activities that the city adopted to tackle rising number of infected cases, for example, setting up a COVID-19 help desk, frequent disinfection of public areas, and instalment of hand washing stations and toilets at immigration ports. Despite these extensive measures, the city faced multiple challenges due to lack of clear protocols for segregating COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients, shortage of critical care equipment and trained staff, and scarcity of oxygen during the second wave. This report suggests more formal collaborative research to understand COVID-19 impact on vulnerable populations.
Reference: Howden-Chapman, P., Wilhelm Gatzweiler, F., Cooper, R., Luginaah, I. (eds) Cities Under COVID-19: A Systems Perspective. Urban Health and Wellbeing. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-19-8163-0