By Kedar Timalsina
Banepa, Mar. 19: Minister for Health and Population Birodh Khatiwada has said that the government target to administer full doses of COVID-19 vaccines to all people aged above 17 years has been met before the set target of mid-April.

Inaugurating a basic hospital in Mandandeurali-Kavre on Friday, Minister Khatiwada also urged the people to get booster dose from nearby health centre and keep oneself safe from the pandemic.
“Secure your booster dose against COVID-19 from the health centre if you are left out,” he said.

According to him, 60 per cent people aged between 12 and 17 got their first dose vaccine and about 50 per cent of them second dose vaccine against COVID-19 till date.
Minister Khatiwada claimed that the government successfully fought against coronavirus as it was able to manage vaccines to the people before the set target in the country. He also informed that the government sent money for the pre-booking of COVID-19 vaccines for the children aged between five and 12 years with America. “We have booked 9 million doses of the vaccines for the children of five-12 years age group,” he added.

“However, we are unable to bring the vaccines as the World Health Organization (WHO) has not recognized them. The government will bring those vaccines for the children immediately after WHO’s authentication.
Minister Khatiwada expressed satisfaction over the achievements made by the government and said that the government was preparing to construct a separate geriatric hospital for the elderly citizens in the country.

Minister Khatiwada said that there were dedicated hospitals for the civil servants, police and armed officials and children in the country and the government was preparing to build a similar separate hospital for the senior citizens. “They will get special care in the hospital if we could construct it,” he added.

The Minister informed that the government was searching for land for building a geriatric hospital in the central part of the country.
The Minister also said that the government was committed to holding the local elections on May 13.

Similarly, Nima Lama, Health Minister of Bagmati Province, said that the government was sensitive enough on public health. “We care for people in the nation which is the reason why 98 per cent of the targeted population in the province has been vaccinated against COVID-19,” he said.
The five-bed basic hospital has been built at a cost of Rs. 105.4 million.