Elusive basic health services
The Himalayan Times
10
June 2014
Elusive basic health
services
Albeit it was not surprising to read the
news report “Bajura folks deprived of basic health care” (THT, 5 June, Page 3),
it was definitely heart touching one considering the carelessness and irresponsible
acts of the state in providing basic health services to its general public in
many remote villages of the country. It is really sad to see the people walking
two/three days for seeking minor health services in the absence of such
services in their respective government owned health service outlets. What a
shame they (people) have to still believe in shamans and witch doctors? The
regular absence of health workers and lack of medicines in those service
outlets have been the major setbacks.
In fact, the health delivery system of Nepal is one of the best organizational
structures in the SAARC region. The government has the responsibility of supplying
medicine in the beginning of each fiscal year as per the necessity of these
service outlets. Such medicines lasts hardly for six months and sometimes do not
even reach to their destination. This has clearly undermined their rights to
receive basic health services at their doorsteps. Unless the government and the
concerned authorities become responsible and show their sincerity and
commitment to provide basic health services, the general public in the remote
rural areas will continue to suffer.
Rai Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
