Medicine and medical equipment will arrive Nepal in three days: Minister Dhakal

KATHMANDU, March 25: Minister for Health and Population Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal has assured that the medicines and equipment necessary to prevent and control COVID-19 would arrive in Kathmandu within three days.

In a press conference organized on Wednesday, Minister Dhakal shared that work was initiated to call for tender to procure medicines and equipment.

“Once these items reach Kathmandu, they will be dispatched to all seven province and places reported with infection of the deadly virus,” he said.

Ministry of Health and Population in coordination with Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police will supply the medicine and equipment to all the provinces, districts and coronavirus-hit places, according to Minister Dhakal.

Dhakal shared that preparation were put in place to run a lab to test coronavirus at Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health and Sciences from today.

The government has planned to expand the lab facility to all seven provinces to ease out the testing of COVID-19.

Furthermore, he urged one and all not to go by rumor that the lockdown would be lifted after 5 pm and appealed to stay alert and at home.

He also assured that the government would ensure the supplies of essential goods and services despite the nation-wide lockdown.

According to him, the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) had begun in Nepal itself and they would be sent to the health facilities as per the need.

Minister Dhakal also shared that the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital (STIDH) at Teku will conduct and confirm the case of coronavirus while Patan Hospital will treat the patients tested positive for the COVID-19.

A 32-year-old man from Dhading district, who landed in Kathmandu from the United Arab Emirates, was tested positive for coronavirus, making Nepal’s total cases to three. The man had stayed in a hotel and was admitted to the Teku-based Hospital last Tuesday.

Dhakal said that the ministry is making effort to identify and search those arriving Nepal along with the corona-infected person.

“Upon finding them, they would be quarantined and tested for coronavirus,” he added.