KIHS to start teaching hospital in Jumla

JUMLA, Sept 19: People in Karnali region had been elated after Karnali Institute of Health Sciences (KIHS) had started a nursing college. And with the institution preparing to run a medical college and allied college, they have been even more excited. "It has been two years since we began nursing classes. And within a year we will also start providing medical education in Jumla itself," said Shyam Lamsal, Registrar of KIHS.

Construction works for the 300 bed hospital has already begun. And the news that MBBS classes will be started within 2-3 months of the hospital's running has been an encouragement for Jumla's higher secondary schools. Higher secondary schools are becoming enthusiastic about running classes in science stream. A fully equipped science lab is under construction at the Chandan Nath High School. "The science lab is being built with NRs. 4 million fund provided by the Electoral Region Development Project," said Kalananda Majhi, a teacher at the school.Chitwan's Prakash Sapkota who has been working in Jumla's Chumchaur health post as Health Assistant plans to study MBBS in the newly opening medical institute of Jumla. "Working in a rural health post, I have witnessed the desperate need of medical doctors in a place like Jumla," said Sapkota. "I am going to try to get placement in the first batch of MBBS students in Jumla's college and study so that I will be able to serve people here."

Sapkota who is currently enrolled in science stream in 12th grade, attends his classes in the morning and works in the health post during the day. He is one of the many Jumla residents who plan to join the MBBS bridge course classes after completing their +2 studies and remain prepared to compete for MBBS course when the college comes into operation.

The institute has already sent a team of seven doctors including two surgeons, one physician, one MDGP, two orthopedic surgeons, one anesthetist to study special course at the Bir Hospital. The course has been funded by the hospital itself and the doctors are expected to join the hospital in mid October. This team of doctors will also be involved in teaching the MBBS courses in Jumla.

Rural region has been giving priority to doctors specializing in a particular field. Mangal Rawal, a doctor from Humla is set to become the region's first orthopedic specialist. Rawal whose education is being funded by the institution will be serving the rural population from mid-October.

Students coming from backward communities have been allocated a 45% reservation where as 20% of students will study with full scholarship. Similarly, another 20% will be granted partial scholarship.

"With this college we are getting an opportunity for quality education near our homes," said Sharmila Thapa, a nursing student at the college. The college has been offering nursing courses at a price that is almost Rs. 150,000 lesser than that offered by CTEVT. "When students go outside the district to study, the cost is almost Rs. 4, 75, 000. And that doesn't include fooding and lodging" said Nursing College's Dean Gayatri Rai. "Therefore acknowledging this difficulty faced by the students and guardians, we are offering courses at a lower price," she added.

KIHS was established in 2011 and putting together a team of one specialist doctor and five doctors, it began to serve patients a year later. The institute became fully functional after the Karnali Regional Hospital infrastructure was provided to it. A 950 million rupees master plan for building a 300-bed hospital was approved by the Health Ministry and the Finance Ministry.

Former lawmaker Naresh Bhandari is credited for coming up with the concept of establishing the KIHS. "This proposal's approval has become a milestone in development of health services in this rural region," said Bhandari. "We will begin classes for MBBS in near future. And we will see that the government in not stingy in allocating budget for this," he added.

Dr. Naresh Thapa from Jumla informs that the region's weather is favorable for carrying out operations at any month of the year. "As surgical wounds heal faster in colder climate, we can expect patients from Tarai to come to mountains for treatment in near future," said Thapa. He also informed that surgeries related to orthopedics, laparotomy, appendicitis and cesarean were already available in Jumla.

Karnali Regional Hospital has been running a 100-bed teaching hospital which sees good patient flow. The hospital previously depended upon assistant health workers and nursing midwives to cater to patients. Patients were also frequently referred to other hospitals because of lack of services. Presently seven specialists and 15 doctors provide round the clock service to patients.

Related story

DAO Jumla orders KIHS for best treatment as Dr Govinda KC's hea...