Kathmandu, August 17:

Newly elected Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today inaugurated Nick Simons Block (NSB), a new maternity ward, in the Patan Hospital.

The new ward was built at the cost of Rs 260 million in memory of Nick Simons, who worked in a community health project and was determined to dedicate his life to health care in Nepal. He died in Bali.

The new ward has 163 beds, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit among other facilities.

"We are very satisfied with our small efforts dedicated to our son," said Drs Jim and Mary Simons, parent of Nick Simons.

They also hoped that the new ward would bring new hope in the life of women in need of basic maternity health services.

"With the help of NSB, we would be able to build a more efficient and better-equipped ward with improved services," said Rajesh N Gongol, medical director, Patan Hospital.

The ward would help meet the demand of pregnant women, he added. "The new wards have a special care centre to provide better treatment for vulnerable newborns, and there are two new operating theatres and an energy-efficient heating system," added Gongol.

The new building is earthquake-resistant and has an auditorium, library, seminar rooms and other training facilities.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Constituent Assembly member Pampha Bhusal hoped that the NSB block would be a model for every hospital.

"The people would not suffer in the lack of medical facilities after the formation of new government," she added.