Rajbiraj, July 11

As many as 235 patients have benefited from the social service unit programme operated by Rajbiraj-based Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital in Saptari.

The programme has been in operation from March 26 with the aim of providing service from experts. The service will either be free or partial cost will be borne by the hospital for the poor and needy, disabled elderly citizens, woman health volunteers, disaster victims, martyrs’ families and children lacking nutrition, among others.

The hospital’s medical superintendent Dr Chuman Lal Das said around 136 females and 119 males had benefited from the service till date. Under the programme, service was provided to 58 elderly citizens, 29 children suffering from malnutrition, 10 prisoners, six disabled persons and 127 poor, very poor and helpless patients.

The social service unit programme Deputy-chief Suryakanta Jha said the hospital had invested Rs 141,972 for various medical tests of patients during treatment. He said a separate committee was formed that included hospital representatives and representatives of different organisations to provide continuous, effective and fair service to the target group.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population Upendra Yadav inaugurated the programme on July 3. However, the social service unit began providing service to targeted groups from March 26. Dr Das said the inaugural ceremony was delayed due to Minister Yadav’s busy schedule.