Implement public health measures rigorously
Considering the possibility of third wave of COVID 19 pandemic in the near future, the World Health Organisation today called upon countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region to scale up and implement public health and social measures rigorously, and boost the accelerated vaccine rollout in a bid to prevent another surge of COVID-19 as more countries have confirmed the prevalence of highly transmissible variants. Nepal is among 11 countries in this region.
More efforts are needed in the coming days to test, trace and isolate the people depending on the seriousness of third wave of COVID 19 variant which is said to be more dangerous. Societal interventions such as physical distancing, hand washing and proper use of masks need to be stringently implemented. These measures should be in full force and for longer periods in the areas where more transmissible variants of concern are reported.
Having said all these, Is our government aware of and appropriately prepared for this approaching scary situation? Is our government capable of handling such upcoming another dreadful pandemic? It is sad to say that most of the senior citizens, who had received first doze of COVID 19 vaccines three months ago, have not been given second doze due to lack of proper health equipment with both the government and private hospitals and sluggish management of the government.
Let us hope that the government must have learned the lessons from its poor management of health delivery system during the first and second wave of COVID 19 pandemic. Otherwise, many innocent lives will be lost in the absence of proper public health care system.
