RUPANDEHI, Jan 24: Minister for Health, Population and Family Welfare of Lumbini Province Indrajit Tharu has announced to vaccinate all citizens of the province against COVID-19 by March 14. 

So far, 80 and 70 percent of the population has been administered the first and full dose respectively, he said, adding that preparations were underway to vaccinate people of the 12-17 age group.  The death toll among those who received the first dose has been at two percent and among those who were fully vaccinated at one percent, he said at a face-to-face program organized today in Butwal by the Reporter’s Club, Lumbini Province. 

A vaccination awareness campaign has been started in coordination with local governments so as to make the people, especially those in the rural areas, aware, he said.

However, on the occasion, former health minister of the province and main opposition CPN (UML) leader Bhoj Prasad Shrestha accused the provincial government of not being serious about the health of the citizens. 

He accused that the government had failed to prevent and control the virus and effectively launch the vaccination campaign. 

Similarly, the central president of the Human Rights and Peace Society, Gobinda Khanal accused the provincial government of not being serious about preventing and controlling the infection. 

Also, chairperson of the Lumbini Medical College Gopal Bahadur Pokhrel and central joint treasurer of the Nepal Public Health Association Uma Thapa complained that health workers, who have been working round the clock against the virus, lack encouragement from the government. 

 
• Rupandehi
 
• Vaccination
 
• Nepal