Vaccine availability remarkable in 2078 BS
KATHMANDU: APRIL. 15 – This past year, 2078 BS remained remarkable in terms of vaccination against COVID-19 and physical infrastructures. The availability of vaccines against COVID-19 has been described as an encouraging achievement.
The availability of vaccines contributed tremendously to preventing and controlling COVID-19.
Nepal witnessed the second and third waves of COVID-19 in 2078 BS. However, the government made tremendous efforts along with the support of health workers to face the health crisis. The infrastructures created during the second wave of COVID-19 also helped a lot to cope with the crisis.
Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population Dr Roshan Pokharel observed, “This past year, 2078 BS remained as a defining time of both challenges and opportunities. We however faced the challenges with untiring efforts of medical persons.”
He also claimed that most of the Nepalis got vaccinated against COVID-19 and the government also made noticeable progress in infrastructures.
On the first day of 2078 BS, 1.8 million doses of anti-COVID vaccines were administered while it reached over 40 million on the first day of 2079 BS, according to the Ministry.
Nepal had begun administering the anti-COVID vaccines on Magh 12, 2077 BS (25 Jan 2021). So far, Nepal imported over 53 million doses of vaccines. The vaccines were brought on grant and under the COVAX facility. The government also purchased a huge amount of vaccines.
The Ministry further shared that 94 percent of the target population (above 18 years old) has been administered the first dose of the vaccine and 83.1 percent got the second dose. The Ministry has aimed at vaccinating the remaining target population within this month of Baisakh (April/May).
Similarly, Joint Spokesperson at the Ministry Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari said the challenges faced during 2078 BS were turned into opportunities. He remembered that unprecedented development on health-related infrastructures was recorded last year. Several facilities ranging from basic hospitals to hospital beds and oxygen plants were established in a year.
-Sharad Sharma/RSS
