KATHMANDU, April 29: Nepal’s leading online shopping marketplace, Daraz, has initiated COVID-19 vaccination for all its frontline and delivery workers in collaboration with the Department of Health Services (DoHS), according to the company.

Owned by the Alibaba Group, Daraz operates in five South Asian Markets including Nepal. At present, Daraz employs 600+ people across various cities in Nepal alone.

Around half of them are frontline workers working primarily in logistics and delivery services. “The company flew employees from eight different locations nationwide in and out of Kathmandu over the course of the last two weeks in order to facilitate the vaccination program,” said a press statement issued by the company.

Since the rise of COVID-19, e-commerce companies and their frontline workers have been playing a crucial role in making sure customers have access to what they need without having to leave their homes. This is an important initiative not only for the health and safety of Daraz employees, but also for the communities where they live and work. 

Managing Director, Daraz Nepal, Lino Ahlering said they are glad that they could execute the vaccination initiative in collaboration with the department of health services here in Nepal. “Local authorities deserve praise for taking a progressive decision to protect the ones who are on the frontline every single day,” he said.

E-commerce companies have been an integral part of sustaining the economy in Nepal and around the world. Nearly 10,000 sellers sustain their businesses while at the same time millions of customers are able to shop safely via Daraz. “Without our frontline teams, especially our delivery riders, this would not be possible. Hence, it is an important step to keep society safe amidst a potential second wave of the pandemic,” the statement quoted Lino as saying further.

Frontline workers form the backbone of the company, and are at the biggest risk of contracting COVID-19. Thus, the riders and front-line workers were the first ones to receive the COVID-19 vaccine within the company, according to the statement.

 “Being vaccinated means protecting yourself from the virus so you can be there for your family, friends and colleagues. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Daraz for arranging and executing the vaccination drive on a very short notice especially for those who operate outside the Kathmandu Valley,” said Hub Supervisor Vishal Shrestha who received the first dose of the Verocell vaccine.

 
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