By Abhinash Chaudhary
Dhangadhi, Jan. 28: Usha Adhikari of Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City-12, in Kailali district is a health volunteer. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, she was exposed to the risk of virus infection. Adhikari, who had been serving people round-the-clock amid the pandemic is now delighted to be receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Along with the starting of Nepal’s COVID-19 vaccination drive, Adhikari also got vaccinated on Wednesday. “We are lucky to be receiving vaccine on the first day of the first phase of vaccination campaign,” she said, adding “We were attending our duties with the fear of contracting the virus. Now, we’ll be able to work without worrying about it.”
Similarly, health volunteer Urmila Chaudhary’s happiness knows no boundaries. Chaudhary, who is from Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City-9, said, “I feel relieved and blessed to get vaccinated this quick.”
Not only are the health workers being administered the vaccine against COVID-19 delighted, they are also thanking the government for taking effective measures to ensure prompt availability of vaccines.
The health workers have also requested the public to get vaccinated without worrying when their time arrives. “The government has been striving to provide vaccine to everyone so everyone must remain calm and join hands with the government in this vaccination drive,” said health volunteer Pushpa Baraili of Dhangadhi-12. “I am feeling safe after being vaccinated. Now, my will power has also boosted.”
However, vaccination doesn’t mean the threat of pandemic is over. We must give continuity to the preventive measures against the spread of virus, Baraili added.
The COVID-19 vaccination roll-out had begun in Sudurpaschim Province on Wednesday by administering the vaccine to Dr. Guna Raj Awasthi, director of the Provincial Health Directorate.
The Covishield vaccine will be administered to around 16,293 front line health workers in
Sudurpaschim Province in the first phase. A total of 18,090 doses of vaccine have been distributed to all

nine district of the province. The provincial government had received 36,000 doses, of which 17,910 have been stored as per the guidelines.
The vaccination campaign there has been going on from 10 vaccination centers, of which two are in Kailali and one each in eight districts.
In the first phase of the vaccination campaign, front-line health workers including doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, people involved in the management of the dead body of virus-infected people, and ambulance drivers among others are being vaccinated across the nation. India had provided one million doses of COVID-19 vaccine called ‘Covisheld’ to Nepal under grant assistance.
Meanwhile, according to our Biratnagar (Morang district) correspondent Nabaraj Kattel, eight districts in Province 1 have started administering the COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Chumanlal Das and consultant physician Dr. Deepak Sigdel of Koshi Hospital were the first ones to be vaccinated in Province 1.
In a programme held on the premises of the COVID-19 centre within Koshi Hospital, Dr. Das and Sigdel extended their gratitude to the government upon receiving the vaccine.
The vaccination drive will now move on in Province one from 19 vaccination centers set up in eight districts. According to Gyan Bahadur Basnet, director of Province Health Directorate, 28,605 front line workers in eight districts of Province 1 would be vaccinated within 10 days.
COVID-19 vaccine will be administered to 35,576 front line health workers in Province 1.
Similarly, according to our Nepalgunj (Banke district) correspondent Siraj Khan, the vaccination drive had begun in Nepalgunj by vaccinating Dr. Prakash Thapa, chief of Nepalgunj-based Bheri Hospital.
Ram Bahadur Kurumbang, Chief District Officer of Banke and Chairman of District Vaccine Management Committee informed that the vaccination campaign had kicked off along with the vaccination of Dr. Prakash Thapa by health worker Kamala Sah.
Ajaya Kumar Srivastav, chief of the District Coordination Committee, had handed over the vaccines to the health workers. Speaking at the programme, Srivastav said, “As the arrival of vaccines has boosted the will power of citizens, we will now defeat the pandemic shortly.”
Dhir Jung Sah, chief of District Health Office, Banke informed that 400 front line workers would be vaccinated there in the first phase. “Of the 17,000 vaccines received by Banke, currently, only 7,500 people falling under the priority will be vaccinated,” he added.