CHITWAN, March 19: Bharatpur metropolis has announced to build a special 70-bed hospital in just three days for treatment of possible coronavirus infected patients. Even though Nepal does not have any reported cases of coronavirus currently, all the provincial and federal governments have been alarmed by possible outbreak of the virus. The metropolis has planned to transform Chitwan Expo Center, located at Bhatratpur Metropolis – 10, as a temporary hospital for the cause. The decision was taken by the metropolis during a meeting on Tuesday.
The meeting of stakeholders coordinated by the mayor of the metropolis Renu Dahal also formed a 15 member 'Coronavirus infection prevention and control preparation committee'.
Three die of COVID-19 within half an hour in Butwal
The committee has decided give the responsibility of outpatient department (OPD) of the newly announced hospital to Dr Bhojraj Adhikari and Dr Anil Bikram Karki. General ward would be taken care of by Dr Bijaya Chandra Acharya, executive director of BP Memorial Cancer Hospital. And Dr Shriram Tiwari, medical superintendent of Bharatpur Hospital will be responsible for managing staff.
According to Mayor Dahal, the hospital will have ICU (Intensive Care Unit) with 10 beds, HDU (High Dependency Unit) with 10 beds and a general ward with 50 beds.
"We have planned to turn the expo building into 'Corona special hospital and make it operational within 72 hours from now. Patients with suspected coronavirus infection would be kept in the hospital," she said. "Isolation wards at Bharatpur Hospital and private hospitals here would also be offering service," she added.
During the meet, she urged all the stakeholders for due collaboration and support to fight possible outbreak of coronavirus.
