SAARC Diary: MoUs Signed to Reconstruct 25 Health Posts in Nepal

NEW DELH, Feb 27: The Head of the Development Partnership and Reconstruction Wing of the Embassy of India, Nepal, and the Project Director of the National Reconstruction Authority’s (NRA) Central Level Project implementation Unit (Building) has signed four MoUs to restore a total of 25 health posts in Nepal.

These included 12 health posts in the district of Dhading and 13 in the district of Sindhu pal chowk which were destroyed during the 2015 earthquake. Re-building these would cost NR 530 million to be borne by India.

Four contract agreements were also signed between CLPIU (Building) and Contractors, assigning the job to successful bidders. During the restoration, the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI)-Roorkee, India’s premier institute in the field of earthquake-resilient reconstruction, will provide technical assistance and technical hand-holding

These 25 health posts are the first of 147 health sector projects being restored by NRA under a $50 million rehabilitation grant from the Government of India for Nepal’s health sector in ten districts. The remaining proposals are nearing completion of the tendering process. The health facility will have OPD, pharmacy, medicine storerooms, ante/post-natal room, duty doctors’ bedrooms/medical staff, kitchen and disable friendly sanitation facilities.

The Government of India has been active with the Government of Nepal in improving the health sector’s infrastructure facilities. Over 40 health posts/health camps in Nepal have been completed since 2003 under the Small Construction Projects Scheme financed by the Government of India. The Government of India has donated more than 823 ambulances to governmental, non-governmental/non-profit organisations in Nepal since 1994.

(Venkatesh Iyer)