By Sampada A. Khatiwada

Kathmandu, Aug. 14: Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic started, the entire world has been in a battle against an invisible enemy. As vaccines against the novel coronavirus are still in developing stage, the world is left to fight the bug without any dependable ammunition.
Wearing masks, keeping social distance, washing hands, and sanitising are the only ways to win the battle at this moment. These preventive measures are heard and seen everywhere possible, be it on the phone, TV, internet, at the office, and service delivery points and where not! The government has made it mandatory for people to wear masks when in public which is even backed by punishment.
However, many people in the valley are not seen wearing face masks at all or wearing it the incorrect way.
The Ministry of Health and Population, during a recent regular press briefing, had said that only 72 per cent people wear the masks properly.
"I am 88 now. I had not worn masks in my entire life. Wearing it at this old age is quite a difficult task. If I wear a mask, I feel suffocated, especially while walking," said Hira Dutta KC of Samakhusi, who was wearing a mask under the nose while buying vegetables. "Also, wearing a mask makes me feel like my ears are being pulled continuously."
"As the pandemic isn’t over yet, masks are apparently the need of the hour. I am still learning to walk with masks without feeling breathless. For an elderly, it is more difficult than it seems!" said KC.
Likewise, Devi Bhattarai, 33, a shopkeeper at Lazimpat, said, "We are well aware that we should wear masks all the time while we are out of our homes. Although it has been four months since the pandemic started affecting Nepal, we still have not been habituated to wearing masks."
"Being a shopkeeper, I need to continuously interact with diverse customers. Communicating while putting a mask on is not easy as one cannot read the lips. Thus, whenever customers try to communicate with me, I automatically happen to keep my mask down on my chin," added Bhattarai.
She added that the risk of contracting the virus was higher for shopkeepers like her.
"Despite being a well aware citizen, I at times feel ashamed that I am unable to establish a habit of wearing masks in a proper manner," she said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been spreading awareness about the correct way to wear masks ever since the pandemic stated but many people find it difficult to cope up with the guidelines prescribed by the WHO for their own safety.
Along with the WHO, the MoHP, every day, during the press briefing states that since the vaccine against COVID-19 is not invented yet, the SMS rule, i.e., social distancing, wearing masks and sanitising frequently are the only means to prevent infection.
Meanwhile, public health experts say that wearing masks holds zero importance if they are not worn properly.
Dr. Rabindra Pandey, a public health specialist, said that one's nose and mouth ought to be covered while wearing masks.

"One of the biggest mistakes that people are seen making is, pulling the face masks down exposing the nose."
The correct way of using a face mask is to wear it by covering the nose and the mouth. The mask must be secured under the chin and it should fit comfortably on the face, he added.
Dr. Pandey also urged people to wear a three-layered face mask. "One must clean hands before touching the mask and the mask should aptly cover the nose, mouth, and chin. Hands must be clean and sanitised while removing the mask and it should be removed by the straps behind face and head."
Likewise, we should never wear a loose or damaged mask. A mask should not be worn under the nose, wearing dirty or wet mask must be avoided and the mask must not be shared with anyone, he added.