Kathmandu April 30.

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has today donated six types of medical items total worth 78,000 US dollars for COVID-19 response to four of its partner hospitals in Nepal. Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Park Young-Sik handed over the medical items to the respective chairpersons and medical Directors of Trishuli Hospital, Nuwakot, Nepal Korea Friendship Municipality Hospital, Bhaktapur, Tikapur Hospital, Kailali and Dhulikhel Hospital, Kavre. The support was provided for strengthening their capacity to deal with COVID-19 since these hospitals have been assigned for COVID-19 response by the Nepal Government and concerned Municipality, according to a statement issued by the KOICA here today. Among these 4 hospitals, 3 hospitals Dhulikhel, Tikapur and Trishuli are designated as COVID-19 response hospitals by the Ministry of Health and Population and Provincial governments. The NKFMH has been assigned to deal with COVID-19 by the Madhyapur Thimi Municipality. The medical items for donations contains PPE 790 sets, KN95 4690 pieces, Surgical Masks 2185, Surgical gloves 4400, hand sanitizer 600 liters and infrared thermometer 50 pieces. The donated items were received by Arjun Prasad Neupane, Chairman of Trishuli District Hospital, Deepak Rawal, Chairman of Tikapur Hospital, Dr. Biraj Karmacharya, Director of Dhulikhel Hospital and Dr. Gyan Kayastha, Executive Director of Nepal Korea Friendship Municipality Hospital. In addition to this, KOICA provided 13,000 US dollars to the local governments of Sunawal and Madhyabindu Municipality and four rural municipalities Susta, Pratappur, Phalinandan and Sarawal of Nawalpur and Nawalparasi districts as a relief fund to support 433 households of these areas. The allocated budget is being utilized by the local units to provide food items like rice lentil oil and other necessary items to vulnerable people in the project site.