By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, July 12: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has declared that all Nepalis will be vaccinated by the end of this year.
Inaugurating the new surgical building of Bir Hospital in Kathmandu, Prime Minister Oli has maintained that majority of Nepalis will be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of 2021.
“People should not worry about the availability of vaccines against the coronavirus,” said PM Oli.
“As the government is working seriously to save the lives of people, vaccines are being brought in earnest,” said PM Oli and assured that it would come regularly.
“New agreements are made to ensure sufficient doses of vaccines to maximum population,” he repeated.
PM Oli said that the government would be successful in saving the lives of its citizens by improving treatment facilities.
On the occasion, PM Oli said that the fight against the pandemic was continued with the motto of ‘Life First’. “Saving life of people is the first priority. People’s protection is our major responsibility,” said PM Oli.
Despite limited health services and resources, the government was successful to control COVID-19, said PM Oli.
As the possibility of third and fourth waves of COVID-19 would afflict the people again, PM Oli urged the people to be mindful of their health without negligence. PM Oli also stated that every individual must follow COVID-19 safety protocols until everyone in the country is fully vaccinated against the virus.
On the occasion PM Oli drew the attention towards slow mobilisation and development of Bir Hospital for various reasons and directed the hospital administration to deliver effective service being guided by human values and sense of service.
PM Oli suggested all the medical personnel to improve their behaviour with patients and their attendants. He also suggested people to take care of their eating habit and adopt hygienic behaviour.
In the past three years, country's medical sector has made a big stride in terms of production of skilled human resources, specialisation of hospitals, and availability of equipment and so on, said the PM.
Medical care facilities in Nepal are not expensive as abroad and urged all the bodies concerned to contribute for making health services accessible to all, said PM Oli.
The PM was hopeful that Bir Hospital would further raise its prestige to a new height and medical workers would be able to maintain professionalism while on duty. He instructed operating the hospital in full-fledge.
On the occasion, he thanked the contractors' companies for completing the hospital building construction project on time. The construction company had finished the construction before the deadline even amid the pandemic.
He took time to remember the late Bir Shumsher, the founder of the country's oldest hospital. According to National Academy of Medical Sciences Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Dev Narayan Shah, the newly constructed surgical building has 509 beds. On the occasion, Dr. Shah announced that families of two workers who had died in an accident during the construction works would be entitled to free hospital services.
Bir Hospital's Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Jageshwor Gautam said the hospital would deliver specialised services and its services could be free if the hospital got Rs. 5 billion in grant from the government.
The PM honoured them with a letter of appreciation for completing the project before the deadline. The building was inaugurated amid an official event on Sunday morning. The building will have 500 beds that include ICUs, HDUs and general wards. The building also comprises an operation theatre, laboratories and radiology services.
Meanwhile, Minister for Health and Population Krishna Gopal Shrestha on Saturday inspected the COVID-19 Unified Central Hospital (Bir Hospital) in the capital. 
On the occasion, Minister Shrestha enquired about the status of COVID-19 infected people, oxygen plant and other physical infrastructures of the hospital. He directed the hospital administration to put in their efforts to make necessary preparation to tackle potential outbreak of the third wave of the virus.