NA members press for filling gap between urban, rural health services

Kathmandu, July 30: Parliamentarians in today's meeting of the National Assembly raised concerns over various issues including the lack of skilled healthcare professionals, technical labs, medical equipments and medicines among others in the rural area.     

During the Zero Hour of the NA meeting, they urged the government to bridge the big gap between the urban and rural health services by expanding everyone's access to healthcare services.     

Towards this, Indiradevi Gautam called for policy intervention and adequate budget to address the health crisis in the rural areas which, she argued, emanated from the absence of skilled doctors, nurses and technical labs and lack of transportation service.     

Likewise, Ganga Kumari Belbase demanded with the government to arrange adequate human resources and other supports in the country's oldest hospital Bir Hospital to make its services affordable, accessible and quality.     

Gopi Bahadur Achhami drew the government's attention towards the ongoing hunger strike staged by the Diktel Rupakot Majuwagadhi Municipality Mayor raising environmental concerns.     

Jagat Prasad Sharma called on the government to launch anti-corruption campaign thereby promoting good-governance.     

He also held the view that those contributing economically in nation-building bid should be honoured on the Republic Day and Constitution Day.     

Tulasa Kumari Dahal demanded irrigation facilities in the drought-hit areas across the Madhes Province in accordance with the pledge made by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.     

The PM, after inspecting the Madhes Province, had announced the immediate installation of 500 deep boring water systems in Madhes Province while the Home Minister had instructed the Chief District Officers of 21 districts in the Province to search for prospective places to install the facility to address the acute water shortage occurred due to prolonged drought in the province.     

Dahal also pressed for effective implementation of the Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project in Kailali district which was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.     

Likewise, in today's meeting Maya Prasad Sharma questioned the implementation status of the resolution proposals passed in the NA along with matters of public concerns relating to implementation of federalism, gender-based violence, Dalit rights, disability rights, minimization of road accidents, road safety and inflation control among others.     

Similarly, Radheshyam Paswan condemned traffic police's brutality on motorcyclists in Chitwan and Pokhara and urged to curb unnecessary troubles given by traffic police to riders and drivers in the pretext of traffic checks while demanding to end such brutality.     

Also airing her concerns, Sumitra BC drew the attention of the Home Ministry towards the increasing cases of violence against women and demanded justice for murder victims in Surkhet and Janakpur. She also emphasized the need to bring the culprits to book.(RSS)