MYAGDI, Jan 13: Malika Rural Municipality in the district of Myagdi has built helipads in all its wards in order to make sure that anyone in need of emergency health care can be airlifted to better health facilities in the country, including the capital.

Kharmaya Bitalu, vice chairperson of the rural municipality informed Republica that the construction of helipads in all wards was made possible with the support from the District Disaster Management Committee and the Armed Police Force. "We are happy that we have managed to become the first local unit in the district to have helipads in all its wards," said Bitalu, adding, "It didn't take us even two months to complete the construction of standard helipads."

According to her, most of the helipads have been built near health posts and human settlements. The government had introduced the 'air ambulance' service for providing easy and accessible health services to pregnant women, infants, and elderly people. However, the service had not been effective in the rural municipality without the helipads. The construction of helipads has also eased the movement of Nepal Army's MI-17 helicopters.

People in some of the villages are obliged to walk for days to reach other villages because of the difficult geography. Shree Prasad Roka, chairperson of the rural municipality, said that more helipads would be constructed in the future, according to the need.

He expects that this will also greatly benefit the domestic and international tourists visiting the local unit. Malika is considered an important religious destination for pilgrims. Chief District Officer (CDO) Liladhar Adhikari, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Bir Bahadur Budha and Chief of Armed Police Force of Galeshwar unit, Anil Karki had made field visits during the construction of the helipads.

 
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