Karnali, Sept 6 : When the spread of coronavirus began in the country, there were only 17 ICU beds and six ventilators in the health facilities of Jumla and Surkhet. The only biggest hospital in the State, Surkhet had no adequate ICU beds and ventilator service.    
    
Currently, the State Hospital Surket and Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS), Jumla have a total of 62 ICU beds and 26 ventilators. Similarly, there are 20 ICU beds at the hospital of Birendranagar. Number of ventilators has also increased to 10.     
    
The KAHS which is run under the federal government has made infrastructure development with the support of Karnali State. There were only 3 ICU beds which are now increased to 10.    
    
According to the Ministry of Social Development in the State, there were no ICU bed nor ventilator service except in Jumla and Surkhet in the Karnali State before COVID-19. Even the normal patient had to be sent to Surkhet. Currently, all district hospitals except in Dolpa of the State have ICU and ventilator service. Preparation is underway to install ventilator there as well.    
    
Health Service Division at the Ministry informed that the State Hospital would be upgraded to 300-bedded facility by adding infrastructures. Similarly, every district hospital will be upgraded to 50-bedded health facility.    
    
Minister for Social Development, Dal Rawal, has said the COVID-19 has given a special opportunity to invest in the health sector. "The hospitals which had no ICU and ventilator for long since establishment have now these services with the efforts made in the last five months. It is a huge achievement in deed," he observed. Not only physical infrastructures, but also the medical equipment and necessary human resources were managed over this period. The health workers to work at ICU and ventilator service would be provided training.    
    
As per the State Health Directorate, special treatment is now available at 27 health facilities in the State.