Ncell extends support to government hospitals with oxygen concentrators

KATHMANDU: Ncell Axiata Limited on Friday handed the first batch of over 150 oxygen concentrators to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), extending its support to the government to mitigate the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

As part of its continued corporate social responsibility (CSR) in collaboration with the MoHP against the COVID-19, Ncell has pledged to support the government with a total of over 150 units of portable oxygen concentrators. Supplemental oxygen is a basic medical requirement for the treatment of COVID-19 patients with low blood oxygen levels.

Andy Chong, CEO of Ncell handed first batch of oxygen concentrators on Friday to Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, Chief Specialist at the MoHP. These oxygen concentrators will be handed over to district level hospitals that are facing acute shortage of the life-saving oxygen gas.

“We are appreciative of the support that Ncell has provided with oxygen concentrators. In the current scenario these concentrators will be very crucial to save lives when there is dire shortage of oxygen”, said Dr. Jageshwor Gautam, Spokesperson of the MoHP. “The support that has come in as a part of Ncell’s CSR in collaboration with MoHP will help save lives of severely ill patients with respiratory distress during this pandemic and contributes in enhancing the medical infrastructure of government hospitals especially at the district level.”

Andy Chong, CEO of Ncell said, “Giving continuity to serve the people of our country Nepal, we are pledging with a support of over 150 units of oxygen concentrators for hospitals to help save lives during this pandemic. As a responsible corporate citizen of the country, Ncell since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, has supported the government with the sum of Rs. 100 million towards COVID-19 Prevention, Control and Treatment Fund. As a part of COVID response, we are also operating Ncell COVID-19 Hotline in collaboration with Dhulikhel Hospital, providing 24/7 COVID consultation and daily health teleconsultation free of costs to all those who are in home isolation.”

In Ncell’s COVID-19 Hotline Service 9805554500, people can call free of charge for any COVID-related health consultation with doctors and health professionals. From a call centre set up at Dhulikhel Hospital, COVID patients staying in home isolation across the country will also be provided daily health consultations delivered by qualified medical professionals.

In unprecedented times like these, Ncell is doing what it must to serve its customers whilst taking all preventive measures to provide a safe and healthy environment to customers and employees. Chong added that as an essential service provider, the service we provide is critical to millions of our customers across Nepal, and Ncell is committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our customers, partners, and employees.

Aiming to address the need for communications services and help people stay connected during the ongoing hard times, multiple customer-friendly relief offers including heavy bonus on data packs, attractive work-from-home plans, bonus data on purchase from digital platforms and more options for taking Ncell Saapati, among others are being provided to customers, contributing towards easy access to essential telecommunications services at more affordable rates

For employee wellbeing too, Ncell has extended Home Care support wherein in case of emergencies, employees have immediate access to oxygen concentrators, wheelchairs, and stretchers within valley & regions.To further extend better Home Care support to the employees, Ncell is providing pharmacy services, masks and sanitizers to all employees within the valley & regions, given the limited mobility.

The company has also been providing support to its employees in terms of organizing virtual sessions with medical experts on mitigating COVID-19 symptoms, precautions, and treatment among others.

As part of its CSR initiative, the company has been spreading COVID awareness messages continuously for the last year in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population. In 2020, Ncell made Rs. 9.70 billion worth of value contribution in COVID response including Rs. 100 million support to the government established COVID-19 Prevention, Control, and Treatment Fund. Aiming to help people stay connected easily during the ongoing hard times resulted from the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has also been providing services at more affordable rates through multiple consumer-friendly relief offers.