Can a two room health post be constructed at most in two years?But in Sindhupalchowk district, health posts have not been completed even in five years since their construction started.
Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP), which had undertaken the construction of five health posts in the project-affected VDCs of the district some five years ago, has not completed construction of a single health post so far.
To make the situation worse, the magnitude 7.9 earthquake of April 25, 2015, severely damaged some of the under construction health posts.
"Like the water supply project, the construction of the health posts might take decades to complete," Gyanendra Shiwakoti, in charge of Sindhukot health post, said. He informed that some of the under construction health posts were completely destroyed in the devastating quake.
"We have been facing so much difficulty in providing services from the tent," complained Shiwakoti.
He said that in winter, patients shivered incessantly. In summer, as temperatures rise, they struggle to sleep. Many patients and their relatives have had to deal not only with various types of hazardous insects but also snakes. When it rains, the entire hospital floor turns mucky.
He said that it would be a great relief for health workers as well as patients, if the MWSP finished constructing the health posts.
Ghanashyam Bhattarai, chief of the MWSP, conceded that there had been inordinate delay in the construction of health posts.
He said that the construction was taking longer because contractors assigned to build the health posts have fled without completing the work.
He said that the contractor had collected some money from the locals before fleeing.
"We are planning to blacklist the contractor and file complaint against him with police," he added.
He said that the MWSP would consult with National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) and start the construction works again.
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