LOCAL AREA

The Dudhauli Municipality lies in Sindhuli district which is about 215 KM away from Kathmandu. This Municipality has 14 wards and a population of approximately 75,000. The headquarters of the municipality lies in ward number 9 which is in the town of Dudhauli. This is a small town and our program site is located adjacent to the Municipality office. The Dudhauli Municipality has several small stores, restaurants, hotels, health clinics, limited banks & ATMS, etc. Sindhuli, which is approximately 60 KM away, is much larger and has the majority of the amenities you might need, such as large shops, hotels, and banks. It is recommended to have all needed things purchased from home or Kathmandu before heading to the base in Dudhauli.

Dudhauli Municipality is a major entry point to Sindhuli district. Many residence of Sindhuli have no option other than going to major cities in Nepal or to travel across the open border to India for employment opportunities. When the central government urged all the local bodies to prepare quarantine centers to control the spread of COVID-19, Dudhauli Municipality, like others were in a situation of panic. It was a major challenge to find the infrastructure and resources to establish a quarantine center. And like many, they used a public school building as a quarantine center which has not been enough to take the initial influx of people coming back to the district. Now, these makeshift quarantine centers do not adequately solve the problem and it is difficult to maintain proper sanitation and hygiene due to lack of water and toilets in the Health Post. Therefore, All Hands and Hearts will work to expand the Healthpost service capacity and be better equipped so that it can itself act as the quarantine centers in future and provide the needed health services to the people.

The community is about a 15 minute walk from base. Volunteers will be allowed to explore some areas of Dudhauli or the near by cities of Katari or Simsar on their days off. There are small shops in the area that provide food options along with some household items and data plans for phones. There is also an ATM, but we suggest bringing cash from Kathmandu.

Please review the Nepali Government Website for the most accurate and up to date information around COVID-19 in Nepal.

Head to our Health, Safety, and Security page read more about our COVID safety measures, information on our approach to Safety and Security in Nepal, and useful information to help you prepare mentally and physically for life on program.