Dhulikhel's Due Laurels

Living in a city that offers healthy air, clean and safe water, nutritious food, and pristine environment has become more sought after than ever before. That's because we are living in an era when cities are doggedly pursuing prosperity at the expense of environmental health. They are burning more and more fossil fuels for transportation, to live in air-conditioned settings, and to fulfil countless other modern-day needs. In the process, the natural environment has become perhaps the biggest casualty. The Kathmandu Valley being declared one of the most polluted cities time and again is a case in point.

But amid this worrying trend, some cities are working tirelessly to stem the trend, or even to reverse it to make them more appealing, healthier and more liveable.  Dhulikhel Municipality, in Kavrepalanchok district, is one such example. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently declared the municipality as Nepal's first healthy city and second-healthiest city is Asia. After two years of continuous monitoring, the WHO had arrived at the conclusion that it deserves the tile. And by bestowing it, the UN body has duly recognised the long-term efforts and the resulting notable achievements the municipality has made over the years. 

Since 2075 B.S., Dhulikhel has implemented various noteworthy programmes. The municipality, which initiated a campaign to become a healthy city, has fared remarkably well on various indicators for healthy cities: citizens' access to health, their participation in health policy-making, political commitment to health, nutrition, child health and innovative health initiatives such as tuberculosis-free and nutrition-friendly programmes, among others. Among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the government, Dhulikhel has made significant strides in four areas: poverty alleviation, quality education, access to quality drinking water and zero carbon emissions.

With a score of 65.48, Dhulikhel stands second only to Pune’s Banda City in India, which holds the top position as the healthiest city in Asia. With the $5,000 prize accompanying the title, it expects to double down on its ongoing health initiatives and SDGs. As part of its campaign, the municipality established a 10-member health volunteer committee, 21 Ward-level members, and 33 municipal members, all led by female health volunteers, with 670 citizens participating in the initiative. It has also initiated several key programmes, including a tuberculosis-free campaign, a transparency dashboard, operational and social assessments of health institutions, health camps with expert doctors for the general population, and a digital health profile system for its citizens.

At the same time, we mustn't hesitate to give credit where it's due: The municipality in all likelihood, wouldn't have achieved that feat without the crucial role played by its hospital named Dhulikhel Hospital, which has been a go-to place for millions of patients not only from Kavrepalanchok but also from half a dozen surrounding districts and beyond. Guided by the principles of social equity, sustainable development and harmony with nature, the hospital, through its trained staff, has been providing cost effective, compassionate and quality health care services under a collaborative project of Dhulikhel Municipality. Its strikingly affordable services have been a boon for economically marginalised and less privileged. Its outreach centres have been serving as primary health care centres as well as referral points for specialised services. Now that its well-deserved achievements have been recognised, Dhulikhel shouldn't sit on its laurels. Inspiring many other municipalities to follow on its footsteps is what it needs to focus on, so that they too strive to join the ranks of healthy cities.