POKHARA, March 5: Health workers in Pokhara have reported the lack of infrastructures to prevent the possible spread of coronavirus. Being a tourist city, Pokhara is considered a sensitive zone for the contagious diseases. According to health workers, isolation wards need to be set up as a precautionary measure, but there are not enough isolation wards.
Gandaki Province government has taken keen interest in the matter. According to Dr Binod Bindu Sharma, director at the Health Directorate of the province, the government has is ready for infrastructure management. However, more needs to be done in the view of the flow of tourists and other visitors in the city.
Magnificent Rara lacks physical infrastructure
"More than 60 isolation wards have already been set up in four hospitals. But there is a need to extend this," he said. "Similarly, it's also about managing other tools, medicines and equipment," he added.
Sharma informed that there are 27 isolation wards in Charak Memorial Hospital. Manipal Hosptial and Gandaki Medical College have 15 isolation wards each. Pokhara Regional Hospital has three isolation wards.
"If those fall short of demand, we have to provide service from temporary isolation wards under tents. It would be better if we could extend more wards inside hospitals," he said.
He further said that hospitals not only in Pokhara but also in Baglung will be used in case of crisis.
