Post of chief administrative officers are vacant in several local units in Parsa

All financial and administrative works have been put on hold leaving local units unequipped to fight Covid-19. Post of chief administrative officers are vacant in several local units in Parsa

All financial and administrative works have been put on hold, leaving local units unequipped to fight Covid-19. Post photo : Bhusan Yadav

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Bhusan Yadav

Published at : August 22, 2020

Updated at : August 22, 2020 09:10

The vacant posts of the chief administrative officers in various local units of Parsa have affected the local governments’ efforts to fight Covid-19 in the district.

Kalikamai Rural Municipality plans to collect swab samples of 200 individuals in each of its wards to determine the extent of the coronavirus spread communities.

However, according to Pawan Tiwari, spokesperson of the rural municipality, the local unit hasn’t been able to prepare for the drive since it does not have access to the rural municipality’s funds to procure Viral Transport Mediums, PPE sets, gloves, face masks and sanitisers. The funds of the local unit are mobilised through the chief administrative officer but the post is vacant.
“We do not have access to the funds since the last chief administrative officer of the rural municipality was transferred on August 9,” said Tiwari. “The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has yet to fill the vacant post.”

Since the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has not designated an acting chief administrative officer in the rural municipality, the local unit has not been able to conduct financial transactions, said Tiwari.

“The rural municipality has procured necessary medical items on credit because we can’t afford to postpone the swab collection drive. We have to conduct as many tests as possible to determine the extent of the infection in each ward,” he said.

As of Friday, there are 32 positive cases of coronavirus in the rural municipality. Yogendra Chaursiya, chief at the health section of the rural municipality, said, “We suspect the coronavirus has spread at the community level. That’s why we have to conduct mass testing as soon as possible.”

The rural municipality has also set up a Covid-specific health post by procuring items on credit.

“All financial transactions are on hold right now. Even the isolation ward is not fully equipped,” said Tiwari. “We are facing problems distributing reliefs to needy people. Health posts are also reeling under medicine shortage. All of the administrative and financial works have been hampered due to the absence of the chief administrative officer,” said Tiwari.

According to the officials of the rural municipality, they had notified the ministry to designate a new administrative office soon after the transfer of the previous one. “We have informed secretaries and ministers of both provincial and federal governments about the problem. But nothing has been done so far,” said Tiwari.

Pokhariya Municipality, Thori, Pakahamainapur, Dhobani, and Bindabasini Rural Municipalities have also been without chief administrative officers

for a long time now. In Pakahamainapur Rural Municipality, a health employee has been designated as acting chief administrative officer, whereas Amit Giri, chief administrative officer of Jagarnathpur Rural Municipality, has been acting as the administrative officer of Pokhariya Municipality.

Frequently asked questions about the coronavirus outbreak

UPDATED as of September 22, 2020

What is Covid-19?
Covid-19, short for coronavirus disease, is an illness caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, short for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Common symptoms of the disease include fever, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

How contagious is Covid-19?
Covid-19 can spread easily from person to person, especially in enclosed spaces. The virus can travel through the air in respiratory droplets produced when a sick person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes. As the virus can also survive on plastic and steel surfaces for up to 72 hours and on cardboard for up to 24 hours, any contact with such surfaces can also spread the virus. Symptoms take between two to 14 days to appear, during which time the carrier is believed to be contagious.

Where did the virus come from?
The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China in late December. The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that is responsible for everything from the common cold to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). After an initial outbreak in Wuhan that spread across Hubei province, eventually infecting over 80,000 and killing more than 3,000, new infection rates in mainland China have dropped. However, the disease has since spread across the world at an alarming rate.

What is the current status of Covid-19?

The World Health Organisation has called the ongoing outbreak a “pandemic” and urged countries across the world to take precautionary measures. Covid-19 has spread to 213 countries and territories around the world and infected more than 31,405,983 people with 967,505 deaths and 22,990,260 recoveries. In South Asia, India has reported the highest number of infections at 5,557,573 with 88,943 deaths. While Pakistan has reported 306,304 confirmed cases with 6,420 deaths. Nepal has so far reported 65,276 cases with 427 deaths.

How dangerous is the disease?

The mortality rate for Covid-19 is estimated to be 3.6 percent, but new studies have put the rate slightly higher at 5.7 percent. Although Covid-19 is not too dangerous to young healthy people, older individuals and those with immune-compromised systems are at greater risk of death. People with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease, or those who’ve recently undergone serious medical procedures, are also at risk.

How do I keep myself safe?
The WHO advises that the most important thing you can do is wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent alcohol content. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unclean hands. Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces like your computers and phones. Avoid large crowds of people. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist for longer than a few days.

Is it time to panic?

No. The government has imposed a lockdown to limit the spread of the virus. There is no need to begin stockpiling food, cooking gas or hand sanitizers. However, it is always prudent to take sensible precautions like the ones identified above.