Tanahu, June 12: Tanahu-based local governments are carrying forward the process for the procurement of PCR equipment for coronavirus test on their own.
The local levels have decided to obtain the equipment internally in response to a marked delay in the COVID-19 testing on those staying in coronavirus quarantine centers.

A joint meeting of local levels on Thursday had agreed to allocate Rs 10 million to purchase equipment for a COVID-19 laboratory to be established at the GP Koirala National Center for Respiratory Diseases. The budget will be borne by local levels themselves.

District Coordination Committee Tahanu's chief Shanti Raman Wagle said, as per the agreement, the Shuklagandaki municipality is to bear the highest 14 percent of the cost followed by 12 percent each by Bhimad and Bhanu municipalities, nine percent each by Myagde, Aabukhaireni, Rhishing and Ghiring rural municipalities and five percent by the Devghat rural municipality.

As of now, swab sample collected here has to be sent to Pokhara for the testing and it takes time for the completion of testing procedures. To get the test done as soon as possible, the local levels have taken initiative to have the testing facility in the district, according to Byas municipality mayor Baikunghta Neupane.

The Shuklagandaaki municipality has given the responsibility of preparing physical infrastructure required for conducting the test by purchasing necessary equipment. The government-set standard will be followed for this.

The laboratory for the PCR test will be established at the Shuklagandaki-based GP Koirala National Center for Respiratory Diseases. It has been decided to demand work force for the operation of laboratory from the Gandaki State Health Directorate.

The meeting chaired by Myagde rural municipality chair Maya Devi Rana was attended by District Coordination Committee chief Shanti Raman Wagle, mayors/ chiefs of local governments, and Chief District Officer Badrinath Adhikari.

Earlier, 893 swab samples of those staying in several quarantine centers were collected and sent to Pokhara for the test. Of them, three were tested positive for the virus, 422 tested negative while reports of 468 samples are awaited. The infected are under treatment at the GP Koirala National Center for Respiratory Diseases.