RASUWA, Aug 21: ​Naukunda Rural Municipality of Rasuwa district has decided to buy an ambulance instead of a vehicle for the municipality office.

“An ambulance is very necessary for the villages of the rural municipality than any other vehicle. So, we decided to buy an ambulance that will cost five million rupees,” said Srijana Lama, vice-chairperson of the rural municipality.

The rural municipality has a four-wheeler for the chief, Nurbu Sangbo Ghale. Vice-chairperson, members and other staffers are using the same vehicle while going away for official purpose.

A local unit is mandated to buy a maximum of two vehicles. Based on that mandate, Kalika, Gosainkunda, Uttargaya and Aamacho Dingmo rural municipalities have already bought the vehicles.

Naukunda Rural Municipality, however, has decided to buy an ambulance instead of a four-wheeler for the travel of the elected peoples' representatives.

Even though there are a total six health offices including three community health units in the rural municipality, none of them has an ambulance.

“A pregnant woman for surgery, patient for plaster and many other sophisticated patients are referred to Nuwakot District Hospital, Kathmandu Teaching Hospital and Bir Hospital,” said Health Assistant Keshav Prasad Poudel.

After the elected peoples' representatives came into power, all villages in the rural municipality have been connected with roads.

All six wards of Naukunda Rural Municipality have road connectivity so that patients are easily taken to health posts.

The rural roads built last year are said to be reconstructed till the end of this year.“We are planning to build roads in areas lacking roads and the existing roads will be reconstructed with drainage system,” said Lama.