JAJARKOT, Dec 23: Works have begun to implement the plan of building 170 basic health centers in the Karnali state within the next two years.
Locals are happy to see the commencement of the works. Once the works get completed, the Karnali folks primarily of remote areas, will be freed from the compulsion of walking for the entire day to visit a nearby health facility, said Tej Bahadur Singh of Nalgad municipality-8, Jajarkot.
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The plan is being implemented by the joint initiations of the Federal Government and local governments. Shey Phoksundo rural municipality chair Tasi Tundup Gurung shared that the people of Upper Dolpa who are bearing the brunt of lack of health facilities at their localities are glad to see the commencement of works.
The Ministry of Health and Population has ensured budget for the construction of health facilities in Jajarkot, Dolpa, Kalikot, Mugu and Humla, the districts under the Karnali state. The Ministry has also managed human resources required for such health institutions. Minister of State for Health and Population Nawaraj Rawat said the Karnali folks have long been forced to enduring several health issues due to lack of health facilities at easily accessible locations.
"The new programme is expected to address such issues to some extent," he said. Process has been initiated to set up 44 primary healthcare centres in Jajarkot, 39 in Dolpa, 52 in Kalikot, 22 in Mugu and 13 in Humla. The Ministry has also allocated budget for repair and maintenance of primary health posts in Rukum, Surkhet, Salyan, Dailekh, Jumla district.
Similarly, a 15-bed hospital would be built in each constituency in the district. Work relating to government's policy to build one health post in each ward has picked a pace. The headway to building health post in 2,590 wards across the country was made with the approval of the procedure relating to build 'one health post in one ward' last fiscal year.
