KATHMANDU: A 15-bed Covid-19 isolation facility has come into operation at local Gaushala, Kathmandu.

The facility set up at the initiation of Marwadi Service Committee provides free medical care, medicines, and food for the infected, said committee Chair Kailash Goyal.

The facility was inaugurated Wednesday in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinator of Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) Ishwor Pokhrel.

On the occasion, DPM Pokhrel sought the contribution of all in a fight against the virus. “It should not be considered as the mere responsibility of the government and political leadership, the government takes a lead, but we should stand together in the battle against this crisis,’’ he said, pledging all required support on behalf of the CCMC and the Ministry of Health and Population to run the facility in a full-fledged capacity.

According to Pokhrel, presently there are 86 labs for PCR tests across the country and the Covid-19 treatment facility has been established from the center to local levels. The DPM further claimed that ‘people’s life’ was the first priority of the government and procurement of medical goods and oxygen plant equipment had begun following the decision of the Council of Ministers.

As he said, the government has officially proceeded towards the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines. The Ministry of Finance has already released a budget to set up eight holding centers in every seven provinces and in Kathmandu and the Nepal Army will soon undertake the project.

The isolation home with the oxygen support system was established in collaboration with the Nepal-India Friendship Hospital, Goyal said.