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:

3^rd March: A work plan was to tackle COVID-19 was made. Strategies were made and focal persons were appointed to implement the work plan.

13^th 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.

14^th 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.

15^th 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.

17^th 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.

29^th March: 234 patients treated for fever.

31^st 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.