Kathmandu, Nov. 10: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has said that saving precious human life is the first priority of the day, by utilizing the existing infrastructure and human resources to the maximum. Inquiring about the measures taken by the Ministry of Health and Population for COVID-19 prevention and control at the Rastrapati Bhawan today, she emphasized on the need to save lives first.

Lauding the role playing by the health workers who have been risking their lives for preventing and controlling COVID-19, she urged the concerned to take special care of children, elderly and physically incapacitated. The president advised the government to move ahead in consultation with experts and to prepare assuming further spread of the pandemic in the country.

Learning from the COVID pandemic, the government should gradually increase investment in the education and health sectors, she called for the attention of all towards the people with low income, those facing difficulty and those trapped in the poverty cycle.

The President also suggested the central government to take the local level on board, along with all the organs of the state to ease and facilitate daily life of the people at large.

In response, Health Minister Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal said the government had moved ahead to ensure that no Nepali citizen is deprived of the anti-COVID vaccination once it is rolled out. He also claimed that there were enough hospital beds and hence no infected would be deprived of treatment.

On the occasion, Director and office-bearers of various government hospitals in Kathmandu valley apprised the President of the various activities carried out by their respective health institution to address the pandemic and preparations and plans for the future.