Pokhara, May 30: Gandaki Province Chief Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung has said ‘people’s safety’ was the first and foremost priority of the Province Government as the country is battling the second wave of COVID-19.

Speaking at a programme organized by the Pokhara Tourism Council to hand over crucial health supplies to the provincial government here today, the Chief Minister asserted,” ‘Vaccines to public’ was the current priority so as to save the people from the deadly virus.”

Stating that President Bidya Devi Bhandari had made positive efforts for obtaining the vaccines and the budget for the upcoming fiscal year had accorded top priority to the health sector, he reaffirmed his government’s commitment to providing vaccines to all in the Province.

According to him, the province is self-sufficient on medical oxygen and it has expedited the construction of required health infrastructure to deal with the COVID-19 cases.

The authorities concerned have been directed to address the issues of shortages of resources and workforce. The Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, Western Regional Hospital has been developed into a dedicated COVID-19 hospital, according to the Chief Minister.

He said the medical supplies provided by the Council in assistance would be helpful in the treatment of the COVID-19 patients. Pokhara Metropolis Mayor Man Bahadur GC was also present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister provided the received assistance materials to Infectious and Communicable Disease Hospital, Western Regional Hospital and the Matrisishu Miteri Hospital.

Council chair Gopi Bahadur Bhattarai said the assistance materials worth Rs around 1.5 million were purchased from China to assist the province government for humanitarian actions.

The assistance includes oxygen concentration machines, PPEs, gloves, surgical masks and so on.

The Council had the support of Pokhara-based tourism entrepreneurs and Nepalese Association of Georgia in the USA as well to manage funds for buying the health supplies.