KATHMANDU: This past year, 2078 BS remained remarkable in terms of vaccination against coronavirus and physical infrastructures. The availability of vaccines against COVID-19 has been described as encouraging achievement.
The availability of vaccine contributed tremendously to prevent and control coronavirus.
Nepal witnessed the second and third waves of coronavirus in 2078BS. 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 Ministry of Health and Population Dr Roshan Pokharel observed, “This past year, 2078BS 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 2078BS, 1.8 million doses of anti-COVID vaccines were administered while it reached over 40 million on the first day of 2079BS, according to the Ministry.
Nepal had begun administering the anti-COVID vaccines since Magh 12, 2077BS. So far, Nepal imported over 53 million doses of vaccines. The vaccines were brought on grant and under COVAX facility. The government also purchased huge amount of vaccines.
The Ministry further shared that 94 percent of the target population (above 18 years old) has been administered first dose of vaccine and 83.1 percent got second dose. The Ministry has aimed at vaccinating the remaining target population within this month of Baisakh.
Similarly, Joint Spokesperson at the Ministry Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari said the challenges faced during 2078BS were turned into opportunity. 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.
