KATHMANDU, MAY 13

Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokharel has urged the United States (US) government to provide support to Nepal with anti-COVID vaccine and health supplies to deal with the current pandemic.

In today's telephonic conversation between the DPM and coordinator of COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) Pokharel and American Ambassador to Nepal Randy Berry, the former urged the US envoy to create environment to provide vaccine to Nepal at the earliest possible.

He also said that Nepal sought US government support to stem the spiraling outbreak of coronavirus in the country through vaccination. On the occasion, DPM Pokharel shared that the US vaccine is much awaited with curiosity in Nepal.

Likewise, Nepal has expected support and cooperation in the areas such as ventilators, PPE, oxygen cylinder, oxygen concentrator, mobile oxygen plant, medicines, vaccine and its related equipment, necessary infrastructure for makeshift hospital setup and necessary expert human resource for the prevention and control of corona.

In response, Ambassador Berry informed that the support of health materials on behalf of the US government would be made available by next week. The support package would be finalized by coming Sunday, he shared.

'I am also initiating for vaccine. I would inform you once it is finalized', Berry told DPM Pokharel.

Ambassador Berry also urged the DPM to create environment to make two international flights in a week. DPM Pokharel said that they are also thinking about the issue and would take necessary decision in a meeting of the CCMC.

Before this, DPM Pokharel had urged UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal Sara Beysolow Nyanti to promptly facilitate the supply of Covax vaccine which Nepal entitles to get from World Health Organization (WHO), shared DPM's press advisor.