November 24, 2011
Japan’s Assistance for the Project for the Improvement of Medical Service Provision in Pokhara City
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The Government of Japan has decided to extend financial assistance of ��9,830,139 (approximately USD 110,451 or NRS 9,000,000), to Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City Office in Fiscal Year 2011 under the Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects of the Government of Japan. The Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City Office will implement the Project for the Improvement of Medical Service Provision in Pokhara City.
The grant contract relating to this Project was signed and exchanged today between H.E. Mr. Kunio TAKAHASHI, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, and Mr. Mega Nath Kafle, Mayor of Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City.
Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City Office is constructing the Pokhara-Komagane Maternity and Child Friendship Hospital at Battulechaur in the northern area of Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City. The Grant will be utilized to partially support the construction of the hospital, and will be used to construct the emergency room, the laboratory, the pharmacy, reception and the waiting hall of the hospital.
To cope with various health related issues, especially maternal and child health care, the Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City Office started a mobile clinic service by utilizing an ambulance and medical equipment, which were donated by the Citizen's Group from Komagane City of Japan in 2008. The mobile clinic service provides basic maternal and child health care such as pregnancy checkups and immunization for infants of the residents of the surrounding villages as well as other citizens, particularly from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. However, these services are not sufficient to provide people with adequate facilities and medical environment during perinatal periods due to the fact there is no proper medical institution where people can receive emergency and prolonged medical services. For this reason, the Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan Office decided to construct a 25-bedded maternity and children’s hospital equipped with an emergency room, a laboratory, a minor operation theatre, an ultra sound room and an ECG room. An obstetrician-gynecologist will also be dispatched to the hospital. The hospital is expected to benefit more than 200,000 residents within and around Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City.
Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Mr. Kunio TAKAHASHI expressed his belief that the Project, as one of Japan’s contributions to Nepal to ensure the improvement of maternal and child health care services in Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City and its surrounding areas, could further strengthen the friendly relationship between Japan and Nepal.
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