Aawaaj News talked to Director of Koshi Zonal Hospital Dr Sangeeta Mishra and asked her about the preparations at the 350-bed government hospital. According to Mishra, Koshi Hospital has been working with the coordination of local as well as provincial governments to fight the battle against COVID-19. Following is the information Dr Mishra provided as was reported to the government.
PREP TIMELINE:
3rd March: A work plan was to tackle COVID-19 was made. Strategies were made and focal persons were appointed to implement the work plan.
13th March: As per the work plan, decision towards domestic production of tailored PPE, masks and hand sanitizers was made as part of crisis management strategy.
14th March: Required design for PPE, masks, and hand sanitizers as per WHO’s standards submitted to local manufacturers for production.
- Dedicated hand washing stations with soaps were built at 10 places inside the hospital premises.
- Doctors were sent to Kathmandu for training at National Public Health Laboratory on how to collect swab samples.
15th March: A fever clinic came into operation at the hospital premises where fever patients were segregated and treated. According to Dr Mishra, it was the first fever clinic in Province 1.
17th March: A six-bed isolation ward was readied with the financial assistance of Ministry of Social Development Province 1. The ward can accommodate upto 10 patients, Dr Mishra informs.
- Four samples collected the same day and sent for test. All came back negative.
29th March: 234 patients treated for fever.
31st March: Two suspected COVID-19 patients admitted in isolation ward and three people were urged to stay in quarantine. Their test results are awaited. They had entered Nepal from different places of India.
Earlier: Swab samples were sent to Kathmandu for test and the test result would take five days to come. But now, swab samples are sent to Dharan-based BPKIHS and the test results come back within two days.
Till date: Mass screening (temperature testing) of over 13,000 conducted.
- Nine samples sent for test till date, seven tested negative, two results awaited.
- Koshi Hospital provided training to all health workers employed at local government health facilities on tackling COVID-19.
- Treatment protocols decided, daily disinfection of hospital premises with the coordination of Biratnagar Metropolitan Office.
- A separate COVID-19 Hospital at National Salt Trading Corporation, Biratnagar being built (is expected to come into operation within this week)
- Around 200 PPE locally manufactured and currently being used at the Hospital. PPE from government yet to arrive.
- A set of one surgical gown, one mask, and a pair of goggles, manufactured locally, cost Rs 650.