Health and Social Protection services at local level: lessons from COVID-19 first surge in Nepal (research brief)

The local governments continued to provide essential healthcare services and social protection services at local level, despite adverse situations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. At local level, maternal child health and nutrition (MCHN) services were available to the community to the extent possible, essential medicines were adequate, disaster management committees were formed, returnee migrants were tested and quarantines as necessary and social security allowance (SSA) were disbursed. Nevertheless, utilization of MCHN services dropped due to fear of COVID-19 and absence of transportation, health workers were vulnerable to discrimination, inadequate coordination among three tiers of government was felt by government officials, and Prime Minister Employment Program (PMEP) was unable to address the needs of returnee migrants. The pandemic provide unique opportunities and challenges for the local governments to understand the gaps and strengthen its own capacity for future preparedness and response.