Karnali govt launches citizen health screening campaign

By Raju Lamichhane,Rukum Paschim,  Jan. 8: The Karnali Province government has conducted a citizen health screening campaign to identify the health-related problems of the citizens.  

The campaign was launched targeting  Aathbiskot Municipality of Rukum Pashchim, Chaukune Rural Municipality and Birendranagar Municipality of Surkhet, and Humla. 

Launching the health campaign programme, Rajkumar Sharma, the Chief Minister of the Karnali Province, said that the main motive of the campaign was to improve the health condition of the citizens. 

Stating that non-communicable diseases are a health challenge in recent times, CM Sharma said that health tests had begun for their prevention. 

CM Sharma informed that the campaign would be extended to all districts of Karnali Province. "The government is taking health services in the community in both promotional and curative ways. 

Active manpower is necessary in the health sector for conducting health examinations and treatment as well as generating health awareness among the public,” he added.

The provincial government is conducting various health programmes at the local level affected by the earthquake.

CM Sharma mentioned that the provincial government was fulfilling its responsibility for search, rescue, treatment, relief and now reconstruction work after the devastation caused by the earthquake.

Dr Robin Khadka, Director of Karnali Province Health Directorate, informed that the campaign aimed at examining the health of citizens aged above 55 years. 

“A five-year policy programme would be made based on the results obtained from the current health examination campaign. I believe that this campaign will help understand and improve the health condition of citizens aged above 55 years in this region,” said Khadka.

Similarly, Chundamani Paudel, Chief Secretary of Karnali Provincial Government, said that the programme and budget had been allocated by giving priority to health. 

“The government is trying to make the health services simpler and more convenient for the people of Karnali Province. 

In the first phase, civil health examinations will be conducted in Rukum Paschim and Surkhet and in Humla in the second phase,” added Paudel.