As coronavirus spread to Nepal, journalists too became vulnerable because of the nature of their job. Mostly they are in field reporting. Social gathering is normal form them. While the virus was so threatening that social gathering is not allowed warranting strict safety measures. To this scary and panicked situation, FF though little, provided relief- the safety materials to the journalists. Of course, it was not possible for FF to reach everywhere, but in a representative manner in all seven provinces.
Freedom Forum distributed necessary safety materials (masks, sanitizer, gloves, and personal protective equipment) to journalists and media staffs for protection from possible infection. In coordination with its province representatives, additional materials were also distributed for other journalists who were reporting in the field. FF representatives distributed equipment to the journalists.
FF dispatched sets of safety equipment to each province with pieces of KN95 masks, bottles of sanitizer, packets of surgical, press jackets with FF’s logo and some PPE sets.
Receiving KN 95 mask and a jacket from FF’s representative from Gandaki Province, a reporter at Adarsha Samaj daily Top BK thanked FF for providing the materials, saying it was useful in the field during reporting. Journalists in other places too shared that they felt safer after using those gears during reporting.