15-bed municipal hospital comes into operation in Haripurwa

By Janarjan Khatri,Sarlahi, Feb. 23: After 12 years since its foundation stone was laid, a 15-bed municipal hospital has finally come into operation in Haripurwa, located in the southeastern rural area of Sarlahi district.

The hospital, built in Haripurwa Municipality-2, was jointly inaugurated on Friday by Mayor Binod Kumar Sah Teli, Deputy Mayor Sumitra Devi Gwarani and Sarlahi's Chief District Officer Tulsi Bahadur Shrestha. 

The foundation stone of the hospital building was laid on November 17, 2012, by the then-Minister of Health and Population Rajendra Mahato.

The construction took 10 years to complete and in 2022, the Urban Development and Building Office handed it over to Haripurwa Municipality. 

Mayor Sah said that although the budget was allocated last year to start the hospital's services immediately after the handover, the opening was delayed due to the municipal assembly not being held on time.

Since the budget was approved in July last year, the hospital has been equipped with the necessary medical supplies and doctors and other health personnel have been appointed, said Sah. The health coordinator of Haripurwa Municipality, Ram Ekwal Rai, informed that two MBBS doctors, one radiographer, one health worker specialising in eye care and three senior auxiliary health workers have been appointed for the hospital.

The hospital was constructed and brought into operation on 10 katthas of land donated by five local land donors. During the inauguration ceremony on Friday, the municipality honoured the land donors with appreciation certificates. Land donor Binod Sah expressed great happiness at seeing the hospital operating on the land they had donated after years of anticipation. He also urged all stakeholders not to politicise the hospital's management as was the case during the building's construction.

Chief District Officer Tulsi Bahadur Shrestha stressed that providing basic health services is the responsibility of local governments. He suggested effective management of the required workforce and equipment to ensure quality health services for the local community. Chief Administrative Officer of Haripurwa Municipality, Sikindra Prasad Sah, said that the municipality is committed to continuously managing the necessary workforce and medical equipment for the municipal hospital.