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Reconstruction of health post buildings delayed

Gorkha, December 7, 2016: The reconstruction of 41 health facilities’ buildings in Gorkha has been halted since last year due to negligence of NGOs and INGOs involved in the rebuilding works.

Various NGOs, including International Medical Corps, Subha Awasargram Nepal, Asal Chimmeki Pokhara, Care Nepal, Save the Children, Lok Kalyankarini Sangh Nepal, Unicef, GNI Gorkha, Phase Nepal and World Vision had agreed to construct the buildings by December 2015. The organisations have completed only 14 buildings out of the total 55 they had agreed to build in the district.

“Most of the NGOs have not built structures above the foundation,” said Kedar Parajuli, chief of the District Public Health Office (DPHO). The DPHO has extended the deadline for the second time to mid-April. “We have sought clarifications from the NGOs and directed them to complete the works soon,” said Parajuli. The representatives of the NGOs said that they were unable to meet the construction deadline due to difficulty in transporting building materials during monsoon. The NGOs said the construction works had also been affected by the trade embargo and contractors’ negligence.

The construction delay has caused inconvenience to patients. Nanibabu Dani, a DPHO staff, said that most of the health posts are being operated under tents. The devastating quake of April 25, 2015 had destroyed 55 health post buildings and damaged 22.

By Sudip Kaini