DAMAK, Dec 10: An electrocardiogram (ECG) machine at a health post of Gauradaha Municipality in Jhapa is left unused in the absence of technicians to operate it. This machine was provided by the municipality for examining heart patients.

But there isn't any expert who knows how to deal with the machine. Even the health workers do not come to the health post regularly.

However, this is not the problem of a single health post as the situation is the same in all three health posts of the municipality. It has been more than six months that the municipality handed over ECG machines to the health posts of Gauradaha, Kohbara and Baigundhura. However, none of the machines has been used even once.

"We want to use these machines but have not been able to do so due to lack of expertise," said Surendra Basnet, senior Assistant Health Officer of Gauradaha, adding, "The patients can't have their health examined in spite of having a machine."

Samarpan Khatiwada of Gauradaha says the municipality should be responsible in arranging technical manpower required to operate the machine it provided to the health posts.

Health workers in the municipality lament lack of training which is preventing them from delivering their service effectively.

"Currently, we staffers are running the health post. In lack of technical manpower we have not been able to operate the laboratory," said senior health officer Parshuram Bhattarai.

Accepting that it is the responsibility of the municipality to arrange technical manpower and provide training to the health workers, Mayor Rohit Kumar Sah said that efforts are underway to enhance the skills of the technical staff.

 
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