ITAHARI: Hong Kong’s Nepali expatriate community has led an initiative to help pandemic patients in Nepal’s hilly districts.

Hong Kong Nepali Federation, an umbrella organization of Nepalis living in China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, airlifted 100 sets of oxygen concentrators to Nepal. The organization had launched a campaign called ‘Help Nepal Fight COVID-19’ and arranged concentrators.

A total of 200 concentrators have been brought from Kunming city of China. Owing to hassles related to air cargo, the organization was compelled to bring in just 100 oxygen concentrators.

“We are trying hard to send remaining 100 oxygen contractors,” said Tanka Rana, the organization’s president. He said that transportation cost of the contractors is also financed by the organization itself.

The medical supplies are brought for primary health centers of Nepal’s remote areas. Hong Kong Nepal Federation has managed to distribute the contractors in seven districts of Karnali province in partnership with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

It is said that the organization has made plan to donate at least one oxygen concentrator to each primary health centers in all 77 districts across the country.

The organization is also preparing to send 100, 00 antigen testing kits and adequate number of personal protective equipment to the frontline health workers.