By Sher Bahadur Sarki, Bajura, June 3: The locals of Triveni Municipality have been elated after a temporary COVID-19 hospital came into operation there.

Prior to the establishment of the temporary hospital, the COVID-19 infected people were compelled to travel to other districts to receive health services.

Now that the municipality has set up a COVID-19 hospital to ensure easy access to health services within the district, the locals have become happy.

Even though the municipality had decided to establish a temporary hospital during the first wave of the pandemic last year, the hospital had not come into operation as doctors were hesitant to stay in Bajura to provide services to the virus-infected patients.

"Now that doctors have agreed to work, the temporary hospital is finally operating," said Chiranjibi Shah, administrative officer at Triveni Municipality. He said that mayor Ram Singh Rawal had inaugurated the hospital on May 16.

Information officer of the Municipality Naresh Raj Panta said that the hospital was set up to make it easier for locals to access health services in the midst of the increasing threat of COVID-19. Shah said that medical officer Sabina Shrestha and a team of paramedics were employed in the hospital.

"As thousands of Nepalis are returning home from India daily, the threat of the spread of the virus is increasing day-by-day. Thus, we established the 15-bed temporary hospital for the treatment of infected patients," he added.

Similarly, mayor Rawal said that all kinds of health services would be provided to COVID-19 patients in the hospital as per the standards set by the central government