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Remarks by HE Mr. Zenji KAMINAGA
Ambassador of Japan to Nepal
On the Inauguration Ceremony of the Health Post of
B.P. Rural Service Center
Gangolia, Rupandehi District
Tuesday, February 11, 2003
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Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala, Former Prime Minister and President of Nepali Congress
Mr. Ram Krishna Tamrakar, Patron of the B.P. Rural Service Center and former
Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies
Mr. Nar Narayan Basyal, Chairman of B.P. Rural Service Center
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is indeed a great pleasure for me to attend the inauguration ceremony of the newly constructed health post building. I would like to extend my special thanks to the B.P. Rural Service Center for inviting me on this auspicious occasion.
"Health is wealth" irrespective of place, time and environment. However, the basic health care and medical facilities in the rural areas of Nepal are not sufficient. It cannot be denied that the basic minimum level health services need to be strengthened in view of the inadequacies of the existing health facilities prevalent in the remote areas.
The Government of Japan in the past has encouraged grassroots activities in the health sector of Nepal by extending grant assistance to several organizations for implementing grassroots projects. Those projects are essential in uplifting the health of rural communities, and have been contributing to the accessibility and effectiveness of essential health services in rural areas.
In order to partially address the inadequacies in the rural health services, the Embassy of Japan extended financial support in FY 2001 to B.P. Rural Service Centre, under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) scheme of the Government of Japan, for the construction of a new health post building in Gangolia VDC. Today, I am happy that the construction of the health post building has been completed through the sincere efforts of all those concerned. The new building equipped with operation room, laboratory, medical store, doctor's room and other facilities is expected to provide adequate environment and space for providing primary health care services to the people of this region. I hope that the newly constructed health post will be able to respond more efficiently to the communities' demand for health services.
This newly constructed health post signifies the aspiration of the Government of Japan and its people to address the problem of insufficient health services in the rural areas of Nepal. I sincerely believe that the centre as well as community people will make concerted efforts in its proper management and maintenance with an inner feeling of ownership and self-help.
I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to all those who have been involved, directly and indirectly, in successfully completing the construction of this health post building.
Finally, I would like to extend my best wishes to the health post for success in providing much needed primary health care services in this region and I hope that it will further kindle friendly relations between the Kingdom of Nepal and Japan.
Thank you.
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