Construction of hospital building excites Annapurna locals

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Beni, June 15: The construction of a municipal-level hospital in Annapurna Rural Municipality, Myagdi district, has been completed. 

Constructed by Rabina-Amit JV under an agreement of Rs. 51.2 million signed on April 30, 2021, the hospital is part of the federal government's plan to construct at least one primary-level hospital at every local level. According to the authorities, the five-bed hospital is disabled-friendly and earthquake-resistant.  

"The hospital has 35 rooms allocated for emergencies, OPD, lab, administration, pharmacy and storing medicines. Of them, three rooms on the top floor have been allocated as residences for health personnel," said Ishwor Bhandari, an engineer at the rural municipality.

Bhandari also informed that the contractor completed the construction within the first extended deadline that ended before mid-March 2023.

"The hospital's physical infrastructure has been constructed. However, we need increased budget to bring it into operation after constructing a compound wall and buying medical and other necessary equipment and furniture," said Amrit Subedi, chief administrative officer of the rural municipality.

Subedi informed that the local level plans to allocate necessary budget in the upcoming fiscal year 2023/24 which will begin after a month. 

The locals of Doba – namely Nau Prasad Purja, Yadav Bahadur Garbuja, Gam Bahadur Garbuja, Amar Bahadur Garbuja, Ghamati Purja, Karna Bahadur Purja and Tika Bahadur Purja – had provided 12 ropanis and seven aanas of land for free for the construction of the hospital. The market value of the provided land is over Rs. 10 million.

The locals informed that they were awaiting the new fiscal year, when the hospital is scheduled to come into operation and provide health service even in far-flung areas. Thousands of locals in rural Annapurna areas are elated with the news of the completion of the hospital construction.