Surkhet, Mar. 7 :The Karnali State Government has decided to carry out the required activities in response to the Nobel Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic.
The State Government spokesperson and minister for land management, agriculture and cooperatives, Bimala KC, gave out this information organising a news conference here today. She said the Karnali State Council of Ministers approved a proposal related to responding to the coronavirus tabled by the ministry of social affairs.
The state government spokesperson said that decision has been made to set up health desk at five transit points of the state, namely, Hilsa in Humla district, Kapurkot in Salyan district, and Babai, airport and Kuine of Surkhet district, to mobilize the required workforce to operate them and to allocate the budget for this purpose as well.
According to spokesperson KC, the state government has also decided not to organise mass assembly, fairs, festivals and public programmes. The state government has decided to stop unnecessary movement of people, urging them not to shake hands and hug each other. It has likewise decided to take special stringent measures at the border transit points in the north and take severe action against traders involved in black marketing in these times.
Likewise, the state government has urged the people not to panic from the coronavirus but to adopt precaution. It decided to conduct public awareness programmes by making necessary coordination with teachers, students, the civil society, private sector and other stakeholders.
The Karnali State council of ministers’ meeting on March 6 has also approved the Approach Paper of the first five-year plan of the state proposed by the ministry of economic affairs and planning. The meeting also took various other decisions.
Similalry in Ranjha, high alertness has been observed to stop coronavirus infection in Banke. Accordingly, the District Administration Office has directed all concerned authorities to remain alert and adopt all precautionary measures to prevent COVID-19 infection.
The border points in the district, the airport and areas with high flow and gathering of people have been targeted and high alertness observed, said Chief District Officer Kumar Bahadur Khadka. Health workers, police and others concerned have been put on high alert to address any emergencies.
Furthermore, awareness and sensitization programmes are also being organised. Accordingly, a help desk and examination centre has been established at the Jamunaha check point in the Nepal-India border.
A coronavirus consultation and primary health check-up unit has also been established at Nepalgunj airport. The unit focusing the travelers has been set up with the support of the Health Office, said the civil aviation office chief in Nepalgunj Prem Nath Thakur. All passengers leaving and arriving at the airport will be screened.
The Banke district administration has also urged all not to organize any fair and festivals, exhibition and gatherings. Accordingly, a street food festival to be held in Nepalgunj has been cancelled.
Meanwhile in Rara, Mugu district has decided to set up health desks at border points to stay away from the pandemic of Covid-19. The meeting of the government offices and stakeholders here made the decision to set up help desk at Nakcha and other border points.
Chief of District Coordination Committee, Purna Bahadur Rokaya, informed that as the district borders China, provenance of deadly coronavirus, efforts are made to stay safe in the district. As part of this, help desk would help ascertain people with flu-like symptoms and suggest them visit the health facilities. Even the rural municipalities are directed to organize public awareness programmes to fend off the disease and keep people informed.
Similarly, Chief District Officer Krishna Kumar Niraula informed that the people would be disseminated proper information with distribution of informative poster and pamphlets. All concerned are requested to launch public awareness programme, encouraging people to maintain personal hygiene.
The people are asked not to gather for Holi festival and not leave home except very necessary works. In case of need, proper safety measures as use of mask, hygienic behaviour are suggested.
Likewise in Dolpa, a peculiar disease that broke out in Karelikanda village of Tripurasundari municipality-1 in Dolpa for the past two weeks, taking its grip on the entire settlement has been detected.
It has been confirmed to be a seasonal flu through a pathology test at the Teku-based Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Control Hospital in Kathmandu.
The lab test of samples of three patients came against the fear that the disease could be deadly coronavirus, according to Dolpa District Hospital’s Dr Melina Hamal. The hospital obtained the lab reports on Friday evening, according to Dr Hamal.
Poor personal domestic and community hygiene followed by lack of sanitary practices is one of the reasons for a rapid spread of the disease.
Use of unsafe (unboiled ) water, no- hand washing before preparing foods, lack of waste management and poor attention to the maintenance of other healthy habits.
A five-member health team has ensured regular treatment to the affected by setting up a cam at the Lekhnath Basic School and now their condition is normal. They were told to cover up mouth and nose while sneezing and coughing, to use a mask properly if necessary, pay attention to healthy habits, drink boiled water and intake lots of fluid in case of diarrhea and vomiting, to keep kitchen, house, house surroundings and community clean .
‘’The villagers have been informed about ways for maintaining personal hygiene and preventive and containment measures against general flu and vomiting and diarrhoea,’’ Dr Hamal said.
It was found that they were aware of the use of mask, but removed it while sneezing and coughing and were told to unlearn that practice.
The team will be again visiting the village to take update of their health status.
Buj Bahadur Bohora, one among of them said he and villagers had already returned to their normal life and resumed farm works.
The health team has so far treated 150 people.