138-day Save Ghopa Campaign concludes

By Nisha Rai

Dharan, Aug 22 : The 138-day long protest organized by locals of Dharan demanding reforms in B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), locally known as Ghopa Camp, concluded on Saturday.

The protest was concluded citing the demands been met. Minister for Health and Population and BPKIHS’ Co-chancellor Bhawani Khapung had reached Dharan to address the conclusion ceremony. 

The locals had been gathering at Dental Gate, Campside, an area outside the premises of BPKIHS, every day at 4 pm come rain or scorching heat for 138 days to show solidarity to the campaign. The protest would last for two hours.

The campaign, which put forth 32 demands in total, was initiated by Hami Nepal, a youth organization, following the deteriorating state of BPKIHS, the foremost health institution and hospital in eastern Nepal.

Within some days of the campaign, Hami Nepal handed the helm to the locals of Dharan following which people, including children to the elderly, started participating in large numbers. 

“Out of our 32 demands, the majority have been fulfilled. Some demands need long-term planning and authorities have assured to fulfill them as well. It is why we concluded our campaign,” said Sudhan Gurung, chairman of Hami Nepal.

A committee was formed while the campaign was underway. It had submitted a report and the recommendations were to be fulfilled in 15 days; they were met on time.

“For demands like MRI machine procurement, MCh building construction, and Trauma Centre building construction, among others, the necessary process has begun. 

Now, we plan to end the campaign but will continue to keep a tab that the demands are being met at a reasonable pace,” said Gurung.

If the basic demands weren’t fulfilled on time, the campaign had warned to stage a hunger strike in the capital city of Kathmandu from August 14. 

The government had requested the locals to not stage the hunger strike and assured to fulfill the demands. “It was under that assurance which Minister Khapung arrived in Dharan to address the campaign’s conclusion,” said Shristi Shrestha, co-ordinator of Hami Nepal.

Addressing the conclusion program, Minister Khapung declared that he would donate his brain after death and would never visit foreign land for treatment.  “The campaign brought several reforms at the Ghopa Camp. 

The institution’s importance is well known and the government will continue to improve it without having locals protest,” said Minister Kampung.