There are reports of a lack of ventilators and ICU beds in some parts of the country. However, ventilators and ICU beds at the District Hospital Dhankuta have been left unattended. It has been more than a month and a half since the equipment was brought.
Dr. Pujan Bishwakarma, acting medical superintendent of the district hospital, Dhankuta, said that the ventilator and ICU equipment were stranded due to lack of space. On the second floor of the hospital, the equipment is covered by a tent.
Dr. Bishwakarma said that the equipment was brought at a cost of Rs. 16.5 million to operate 10 ICU beds with four ventilators with the help of the Public Safety Fund of the Government of Nepal.
The process of installing the necessary equipment for the ICU bed with ventilator was started by shifting the administrative space with some services of the hospital in the building of the Health Office Dhankuta.
A meeting of the ministerial level of the Ministry of Social Development of Province 1 had decided to move the current health office to a new building of the Women’s Development Office at Dhankuta-4, Debarewa.
The decision was taken on October 22, 2020 after the then Minister for Social Development of Province 1, Jeevan Ghimire, came to Dhankuta and chose the place.
Bishwakarma said that the connection would be made within two weeks as the health office was shifted only a few days ago and the work of connecting the equipment was started.
The hospital has also signed a contract for the construction of necessary infrastructure for ICU beds with ventilators.
Dr. Bishwakarma says, “The contract has been signed. The contractor has started the work, ”he said, adding that a contract worth NRs. 3 million has been signed to complete the construction by July.
An anesthesiologist and physician are needed to operate the ventilator. However, the posts of anaesthesiologist and physician have not been established in the district hospital.
Rajan Pokhrel, information officer of the district hospital, said that the district hospital has not been able to fill the vacancies so far due to lack of advertisement and specialist services.
‘Four ventilators have been received in mid-July of the last fiscal year with the help of the state government. Connection is in progress. However, even after the connection, it is not possible to come into operation, ”said Pokhrel.“ The manpower required for the operation of the ventilator has not been managed. ”
Currently, it is very much needed in the dire situation of Covid-19 infection. Patients who come for treatment related to Covid-19 should be treated in ICU and ventilator.
Even though the district hospital has the equipment, the service recipients have to go to the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan, a neighbouring district of Sunsari.