Dhangadhi : Ventilators and ICUs are in short supply in the Far West as the number of serious corona infections continues to rise. However, the ventilators procured by the state government could not be used due to lack of manpower. Two ventilators recently installed at Tikapur Hospital, District Hospital Bajhang and Doti in Kailali are out of use.
The concerned hospitals have stated that they could not operate the ventilator due to lack of technical manpower. The state government had purchased 20 ventilators in 10 hospitals in the state last September to facilitate the treatment of corona infections. Ventilators have been installed in Tikapur, Bajhang, Doti, Mahakali and Seti provincial hospitals while district hospitals in Bajura, Achham, Baitadi, Darchula and Dadeldhura hospitals are being connected.
State Health Director Dr. Gunaraj Awasthi said that the doctors working in the hospitals should be given short-term training and operate ventilators. He said there was a shortage of critical care physicians and anesthesiologists across the country and more in the this state.
The federal government will also send seven more ventilators to the this state, the directorate said. Dr. Awasthi said that if there is no manpower, the service cannot be provided only with the help of equipment. Patients with severe corona infections have respiratory problems and need to be treated with a ventilator. At present, 17 ventilators and 23-bed ICU facilities are in operation in Seti, Mahakali and Dadeldhura hospitals across the State.