Jhapa-based hospitals deal with soaring cases of COVID-19

JHAPA, August 4: Hospitals in Jhapa, the Tarai district in Province 1, have been overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients when experts have warned of an outbreak of the third wave of the pandemic soon.

Sixty people are receiving care for COVID-19 at the 75-bed COVID-19 treatment centre stationed at the Mechi Provincial Hospital, according to Hospital's medical superintendent Dr Tanka Barakoti.  

Only 60 beds in the centre are supported by oxygen supply system and all of them are currently occupied.  Additional patients who require oxygen therapy are being referred to other facilities.  Likewise, three COVID-19 dedicated ICU beds have been packed. Three ICU beds, out of five, have been allotted for COVID-19 cases.
 
The Birtamod-based B&C Hospital which has managed the highest number of COVID-19 beds across is presently treating 74 COVID-19 patients. 

Hospital's public relations (PR) officer Pramish Giri said the Hospital has 32 ICU beds for COVID-19 cases and the total beds have remained packed with COVID-19 patients. As he said, the flow of patients has significantly soared in the past one week. ''If the flow continues to rise, we are prepared to add more beds," he said, adding that the hospital would not let arrive the situation for turning away the patients without treatment. 

The Hospital consumes around 200 oxygen cylinders in a day and 50 are being produced by the Hospital itself.  As Giri said, the Hospital has also managed 25 NICU beds and 15 PICU beds  as experts  predict that children might have higher chance of getting infected during the third wave of the pandemic. 

All the isolation wards, ICUs and ventilators are occupied at Purnatung Birtacity Hospital in Birtamod. Hospital's administration chief Binod Basnet said a 53-bed isolation, nine-bed ventilator ward and 12-bed ICU has been managed at the hospital. He added that all the beds are occupied and the situation is that new patients have to be treated pitching a tent at the hospital premises.

According to him, the hospital is filled with patients as the number of COVID-19 patients coming to the hospital for treatment has increased since a week. The hospital has closed the OPD services for now, giving priority to treatment of coronavirus infected patients. 
Basnet said 100 oxygen cylinders are required per day. 

The Beldangi COVID Hospital in Damak is also filled with patients. This hospital operated by Damak Municipality has 30 beds and all beds are occupied, resource person at the hospital Devi Dangal said.