Officials at the Ministry of Health and Population have informed that they are planning ways to ensure availability of necessary health equipment and medicines across the country after several roads and bridges have been wrecked by the recent floods and landslides.
While many rural areas in the districts of hilly and mountainous regions of Nepal are already difficult to reach because of the difficult geographical terrain and lack of proper road connection, continuous rains, floods and landslides have made the transport of medical equipment more challenging.
Since there is a need to make the COVID-19 medicines, vaccines and treatment resources such as oxygen or ventilator support available throughout the country to save lives, the authorities have faced new barriers after the monsoon rains wreaked havoc.
In recent days, photos and videos of health workers and people carrying medicines, COVID-19 vaccines and oxygen cylinders across rivers and cliffs, risking their lives have drawn the attention of many. There are others who are using those photos to criticise the government.
However, the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) officials argued that they were aware of the situation and were planning for ways to help transport medical resources efficiently.
“We have also seen the videos and photos of how health workers are making sure that medicines reach the health centres. We do not want them to take such risks, and we have started discussing ways to transport the medical resources safely,” said Dr. Krishna Prasad Paudel, spokesperson at the Ministry.
Dr. Paudel, who is also the director at Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, informed that among the different ways to help transport medical resources are use of drones or airplanes. “However, drones can only carry a small amount of medicines and helicopters or aeroplanes cannot be used at all times and areas during monsoon,” he added.
Nevertheless, the MoHP officials stressed that no situation should prevent them from making medical resources available for citizens throughout the country.
We are working in coordination with security forces including Nepali Army for transporting medical resources in the areas seemingly inaccessible, said Dr. Samir Kumar Adhikari, assistant spokesperson at the Ministry.
Officials plan to prepare set up storage centres for necessary medical supplies in places which are close to difficult areas so that the supplies can be transported at the earliest.
We will manage health camps for people rescued or injured from floods or landslides, said Dr. Adhikari.
Source : TRN,
