KMC to gift mobile hospitals to landfill site-affected VDCs

KATHMANDU, July 5: People residing near landfill sites of Nuwakot and Dhading districts will get primary health care services in their villages, as the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has decided to hand over mobile hospitals to the adjoining VDCs soon.



The move of the KMC is aimed at curbing the possible disease outbreaks in the areas and appeasing the locals who have been obstructing metropolis vehicles from dump garbage in the landfill sites. [break]



The metropolis had to struggle hard to control the recent outbreak of diarrhea and viral fever in Okharpauwa VDC of Nuwakot, which is used as landfill site by KMC. The office sought help of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) of the Department of Health Services (DoHS) to control the disease.

Over 150 people were treated in various hospitals of the metropolis. Officials have also been facing intense pressure from the locals of the affected areas.



Officials at KMC said that one sophisticated ambulance, which the metropolis called mobile hospital, will be handed over to Chhatre Deurali VDC of Dhading district as soon as possible as locals of the VDC have filed application for the vehicle. "We will hand over the vehicle to the Dhading people soon," said Rabin Man Shrestha, an official at Environment Department of KMC. He said that another ambulance will be sent to Nuwakot.



The metropolis has five sophisticated mobile hospitals, which were donated by Chinese government three years ago. The ambulances have advance facilities, including birthing facility.



He said that the ambulances will be handed over to the local representatives of political parties and will be operated by the VDC.

Laxman Aryal, chief of KMC, said that the metropolis is working to address the grievances of the people of the affected areas. "We have invested a lot in the areas, and the mobile hospital is one among them," he said.



Aryal said the metropolis has sought additional budget with Ministry of Local Development for developmental works in the affected VDCs. Locals have been demanding schools, infrastructures like roads, drinking water, hospitals and employments with metropolis in compensation. The metropolis has been operating health centers in the affected areas.

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