When it comes to keeping COVID-19 at bay, Dorokha in Samtse seems willing to go a little further. They constructed a quarantine facility. All thanks to the dungkhag officials who volunteered for the purpose, so crucial at this time of the pandemic.
Teachers, dungkhag officials and desuups started constructing the quarantine facility in September. It took them three months to convert an old BHU into a quarantine facility.
“Unlike other places, we do not have big hotels and guest houses which can be a quarantine facility. So, we are now using an old BHU which was lying idle as a quarantine facility. We have installed all necessary services required for a quarantine facility like power, water connectivity, separate toilets and TV,” said Karma Jurmi, the Dorokha Dungpa.
In the absence of a proper quarantine facility in Dorokha, residents had to travel as far as Punakha. But not anymore. The facility will benefit particularly those travelling to Haa dzongkhag the most.
“From here, it will take only about two hours to reach Haa. But when such a facility is not there, people have to travel to Thimphu or other districts which takes more than a day. And when they do not have a personal car, it becomes quite challenging,” the Dungpa added.
Residents are also equally happy with the development.
“The new quarantine facility will benefit us immensely. Earlier we had to travel to Samtse, Phuentshogling, or Thimphu for quarantine services. We had to travel a lot and the Dorokha-Samtse road is unreliable and risky especially during the summer,” a resident said.
“There are many rooms and it is very convenient. People can have privacy in the new quarantine facility,” added another.
The quarantine facility can easily accommodate some 30 people. The Samtse Dzongkhag Administration contributed about Nu 500,000 for the initiative.
The first group of people who spent seven days quarantine left the facility earlier this week, something that was not possible just last month.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
