By Chandra Prakash Sharma/Netra Shahi

Pokhara/Jumla Apr. 21: The health facilities are being upgraded in a bid to prevent, control and treat COVID-19 by installing and providing necessary equipment.
While health facilities in different districts of the Gandaki State had been referring patients to its capital Pokhara due to lack of necessary infrastructure, equipment and manpower, the Gandaki State has begun to upgrade the health facilities outside the capital.
“Due to less investment in health and education, we are facing difficulties at a time of global pandemic. Now, we will not repeat the mistake. Health and education will be kept in priority during budget allocation from now on,” said Nara Devi Pun, minister for social development of Gandaki State.
According to Pun, a budget of Rs 330 million which was allocated to the ministry in the recent fiscal year has been sent to all the districts of our State so that they can buy necessary medical equipment.
While there was no Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in other health facilities except in Pokhara earlier, it has been established in multiple hospitals now. Dhaulagiri Zonal Hospital became the first hospital in the State other than Pokhara to have ICU.
Since Dhaulagiri Zonal Hospital had no ICU but was treating two patients from Baglung who tested positive for COVID-19, the federal government had established ICU for their proper treatment.
With an investment of Rs 6 million, the federal government has installed Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing and established isolation wards in the Western Regional Hospital.
Similarly, ICU has been constructed along with ventilators in Baglung and ICU is being constructed in Gorkha as well.
“We have been investing country’s money in other sectors than in health. For now we have constructed ICU with ventilators in health facilities outside of Pokhara and will continue our investment in health as a priority,” said Minister Pun.
Multiple members of the parliament and state assembly have also urged the government to increase investment in health sector.
“Only limited places have proper health service in our country due to which many have been dying before reaching those places. By upgrading health facilities in all the districts, we need to provide quality health service in at least every district,” said Dr Surya Prasad Pathak, a member of the House of Representatives.
According to the Director of the

Gandaki State’s health directorate Dr Binod Bindu Sharma, the federal government has increased its investment in the health sector which had been a must for many years.
As per our Lamjung Correspondent Belina Thapa, ICU along with ventilator and dialysis service is being added in the Lamjung District Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Health Office in Jumla district has said to have provided five sets of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to every health post in the district.
“We have provided 175 PPE in 30 health posts with health desks and labs

in the district,” said Krishna Sapkota, chief of Jumla health office.
While health personnel have been facing difficulties in providing their services due to lack of PPE, concerned authorities say that their service is being more effective after providing PPE.
On the other hand, the efficiency in testing numbers of individuals for COVID-19 in Doti to know if they are affected by the virus or not has created relief in the locals because all those examined have tested negative for the virus.
“We have tested sample of 230 by PCR and 758 by Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT). All are tested negative for the virus,” said Ramesh Malasi, chief of Health Office, Doti.
As cases of COVID-19 had been detected in India earlier than when cases were discovered in Sudurpashchim State, locals have been worrying since a number of individuals have returned from India. However, with the suspected cases coming out negative till date, locals are feeling relieved.