'Govt's first responsibility is to save lives of citizens'

Lumbini state chief Amik Sherchan has been briefed on the state government's efforts in corona infection control, vaccination campaign, and treatment. He was briefed on the efforts made by the state government and government agencies to control the new variant of the Corona.

He took information from Chief Minister Kul Prasad KC, Speaker Purna Bahadur Gharti, state ministers, health secretaries, security chiefs, and chief district officers during a discussion organized at the state chief's office on Sunday. Chief of the state Sherchan suggested that the state should launch a campaign to control the corona epidemic and other states should also learn from it. He said, "I have received information from the media that the quarantine operation could not be conducted due to lack of adequate PCR test, lack of syringes, and lack of funds." I urge all three levels of government to work together to control the corona infection and treat the patient immediately. ”

Stating that the first responsibility of the government is to save the lives of the citizens, Chief Sherchan urged to pay attention to protect the lives of the citizens even after postponing the development works. On the occasion, Chief Minister KC informed that the monitoring committee of the state minister has been formed for the control and treatment of corona infection and emphasis has been laid on monitoring the effective treatment.

He informed that the construction work of three holding centers in Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, and Banke is underway in the state with the efforts of the federal government and the Nepal Army. He informed that the holding center was not built due to lack of land in Rupandehi and the construction work in Kapilvastu and Banke has reached the final stage.

Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Population and Family Welfare, Dr. Bikash Devkota, said that about 60 percent of those tested positive for corona in the state. He said that 5,528 people have died and 5,026 have been infected in the state since the outbreak with the new variant and 5,036 are in home isolation, 50 in institutional isolation, 33 in ICU, and one in the ventilator.

According to him, Lumbini Provincial, Bhim Hospital, Bheri, and Rapti Hospitals have been made Corona Dedicated Hospitals in the state and 624 HDU 253 ICUs and 62 ventilators have been kept in various hospitals in the state. So far, 83 percent of the target population in the state has been vaccinated against the first and 65 percent against the second dose of corona and the state still needs more than 1.862 million doses.

Chief District Officer Rishi Ram Tiwari said that corona was being tested at the checkpoints of passengers coming from India and there was a problem in the management of those who tested positive for the infection. He said that there is a challenge for the passengers coming to different parts of the country from Belahiya Naka and taking them to their destination. Lumbini State Police Chief Deputy Inspector General of Police Prakash Adhikari informed that the police has launched a campaign to spread security awareness among the citizens to control the corona infection. Colonel Machindra Thapa informed that holding centers are being constructed in Rupandehi, Banke and Kapilvastu of the state and 82 percent physical and 55 percent economic progress has been made in Kapilvastu.