The locals of Dhorpatan community were instrumental in setting up the health center in absence of which people of the area were deprived of basic health services like vaccination. [break]They had to walk a whole day on foot to reach the nearest health center at Bobang VDC-8, Sukurdung for all kinds of medical services.
The community itself has been providing salaries and allowances to the staff at the center, which includes an auxiliary health worker Purna Kumari Adai and an auxiliary nurse midwife, Sita Buda. However, the health center is about to close as the community is struggling to gather Rs 22000 in monthly overhead cost.
Over seven thousand people of Adhikarichaur VDC, Nisi VDC and Bobang VDC of Baglung District and Gurgakhani VDC of Myagdi district were benefiting from the center.
According to Sagar Dahal, a public health officer at the District Public Health Office, the office was providing medicines and technologies to the center.
A senior auxiliary health worker at Burtibang Primary Health Center, Rinbarna Poudel said that thousands of people of the Dhorpatan Valley will be deprived of basic health services, if the health center shuts down. “This health center will be too remote for the people of Dhorpatan area,” said Poudel.
The locals of Dhorpatan have already informed the District Public Health Office that they cannot afford the cost of running the community health post anymore. The locals had been funding the health post partly from the fees collected from people who visit Dhorpatan for hunting.
Kashindra Shahi, in-charge of Bobang health center, informed that they have applied for the establishment of the health center in the Dhorpatan area under the government quota. As per existing government provision, each area should have a health post with basic facilities accessible within two hours of walk.
“We have sent a request to the health department. Without government support, the community cannot provide salary to the two health staff working there,” said Shahi.
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