By Ajita Rijal

Kathmandu, Mar. 30: In order to expand the COVID -19 test facilities, the Ministry of Health and Population has started the lab facility at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan from Sunday.
Speaking at the regular media briefing on Friday, spokesperson at the MoPH Dr Bikash Devkota said that the lab facility for testing specimen of the suspected people had been started at BPKIHS.
“We have started lab service at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences,” said Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, director general at the Department of Health Services. “We have provided necessary reagents and health equipment to the hospital,” added Shrestha.
According to Shrestha, the ministry is also working to set up a laboratory in Nepalgunj in State 5, Hetauda of Bagmati State Pokhara of Gandaki State and Dhangadhi in Sudhurpachhim State. Shrestha said that as the shortage of the medical equipment has gripped the world, the exported equipment are a bit expensive than before.
Shrestha asked one and all to not disseminate the false information at the time of crisis relating the export of the medical equipment.
He also urged to recognise the rational use of PPE as per the protocol of World Health Organisation.
The MoHP informed that 12 coronavirus suspected patients were in isolation wards at the three hospitals of Kathmandu.
Dr Devkota said that five corona suspects are in isolation ward of Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Diseases Hospital (STIDH) at Teku, six in Patan Hospital and one in Kanti Children’s Hospital.
On the occasion D. Devkota said that the tracing of all those contacts of the virus infected patients is being carried out promptly.
The ministry has asked all the hospital and health care providers to provide services to the emergency cases and those who need acute care.
Dr Devkota asked the health centres to refer the COVID-19 suspects at the designated hospital.
According to National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), 917 coronavirus suspected cases have been tested as of Sunday. Of the total tested cases, five were found positive, of which one has already recovered.
China provides medical aid
The Chinese government has provided medical aid to Nepal government on Sunday to combat the novel coronavirus.
Hou Yanqi, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, handed over the medical supplies to Minister for Health and Population Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal on the premises of Ministry of Health and Population on Sunday.
The aid was jointly donated by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, Sichuan Province and Alibaba Foundation, Jack Ma Foundation, China CAMC Engineering Company Ltd., and Sichuan Huashi Group Company Ltd.
The donated medical equipment included N-95 masks, medical kits, portable ventilators, thermometers, personal protective equipment (PPE), thermal equipment and surgical masks. On the occasion, Minister Dhakal extended gratitude to the Chinese government and people for their warm support to the Nepalis in the battle against COVID-19.
“The received medical aid will be distributed to all hospitals of federal and State levels,” said Minister Dhakal, adding these materials would help us fight against the deadly virus. On the occasion envoy Hou Yanqi said that Nepal is a good friend of China, adding, “We are ready to send medical teams to Nepal if needed.”
Meanwhile, in a separate message issued this evening, spokesperson of Chinese Embassy said China and Nepal are good neighbours and partners, and the two countries were supporting each other to fight COVID-19.
Stating that the risk of imported cases in Nepal was increasing and more medical supplies were needed to deal with the epidemic, he said the Chinese Embassy attached great importance to this and has actively contacted the relevant domestic departments to collect those materials.
“With the effort of nearly one week, the first batch of medical supplies donated by the Chinese side to Nepal arrived at 5:30 a.m. on March 29. Among them there are 24000 disposable surgical masks, 20000 disposable masks, 2000 N95 masks, 500 protective goggles, 100 non-contact infrared thermometers, 100 ear thermometers, 400 boxes of chloroquine phosphate tablets, 530 protective clothing and one portable ventilator jointly donated by Chengdu City, Yibin City, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial Investment Group and the Chinese Embassy,” he said.
Website and mobile app
Meanwhile, the MoHP on Sunday has launched website and mobile apps to provide the all the information regarding the COVID-19.
The website: covid19.mohp.gov.np and ‘Hamro Swasthya’ mobile app has come into operation from Sunday. The ministry launched the website and mobile application into operation to manage the efforts put by the government in prevention and control of COVID-19. Minister for MoHP Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal inaugurated the website and app on Sunday. The ministry has also used viber community to provide the access of COVID-19 information to all the public. The details and status of health facilities and the number of infected person will be provided in the websites and mobile apps.
In order to fight against the virus, we want to provide the COVID-19 in an integrated way, said minister Dhakal.
The minister is working with high alert said Minister Dhakal and request all for not getting panic.
The ministry in coordination with Progressive Engineering Association Nepal, Naksa, Soch Nepal,Code for Core Innovation and IT maps has developed the website and apps.
One can visit the online portal covid19.mohp.gov.np and download the mobile app ‘Hamro Swasthya’ and join in Viber community in (MoHP NEPAL COVID-19).
The information regarding hub hospital, COVID-19 oriented hospitals and location for quarantine and the status of isolation beds can be found in the website and apps. Likewise, one can detect the symptoms of disease and find the results of the test through the means of the website and apps.