JALESHWAR, July 12: Save the Children, as part of the Global Fund Program, handed over a Health Desk building located at Malibara, Bhittamod, the point of entry (PoE) along the Nepal-India border in Mahottari, to Jaleshwor Municipality in Madhesh Province. The container-based health facility was built at the cost of NPR 21,54,000, with the aim of controlling the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria.

Deepak Paudel, the Chief of Party for the Global Fund program at Save the Children, formally handed over the ownership of the building to Jaleshwor Municipality during a function on Thursday. The event was graced by the Hon’ble Minister of Health and Population of Madhesh Province, Shatrudhan Prasad Singh, alongside representatives from the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) of the federal government, the Health Secretary, Province Health Directors from Madhesh Province, Jaleshwor Municipality, and other concerned stakeholders.

Speaking at the event, Deepak Paudel said, “The Global Fund program in Nepal has worked alongside the Nepal government to support its initiatives to end HIV, TB, malaria, COVID-19, and other infectious diseases in the country. This Health Desk will serve as a critical health outlet to prevent and control these infectious diseases at this major border entry point that witnesses a huge influx of at-risk migrant populations into the country.”

The Health Desk will provide integrated services of regular counseling, screening, testing, and primary care for infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, tuberculosis, and malaria. It will also make referrals to hospitals for further treatment, specifically targeting migrant returnees from India and other underserved groups. The facility is linked with the health management information system (HMIS) of the government.

Save the Children, as the principal recipient (PR) of Global Fund grants in Nepal, has been collaborating with all three tiers of government in Nepal to end HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria in the country. Earlier, the Global Fund program renovated the Health Desk building located at the Rani-Jogwani entry point at a cost of NPR 15,76,000. This building was handed over to Biratnagar Metropolitan City, Morang, in Koshi Province amid a program on Tuesday.