Kathmandu, June 14

US Ambassador to Nepal Alaina B Teplitz and Minister for Health and Population Upendra Yadav jointly handed over the newly-reconstructed Bahrabise Primary Healthcare Centre in Sindhupalchowk on Wednesday.

During the handover ceremony, Ambassador Teplitz said, “For over 70 years, the United States and Nepal have shared a mutually beneficial relationship. The 2015 earthquakes caused unimaginable devastation, displacing families, destroying schools and damaging health facilities. It is in difficult times like this that a helping hand means the most and we are proud that the United States was able to demonstrate our deep friendship with the government and people of Nepal in this time of need.”

This $1.8 million reconstruction project was made possible due to the support of the American people through the US Agency for International Development. The project — which included constructing two new buildings, renovating an existing building, and fully equipping all buildings according to Ministry of Health and Population standards — was implemented by the US Army Corps of Engineers under a contract with the Creative Builders Concern, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Kathmandu.

The Bahrabise Primary Healthcare Centre is the first health facility that was rebuilt with USAID funds following the 2015 earthquakes. USAID and the health ministry identified this health facility as a high-priority for reconstruction due to a large number of patients it served. The 15-bed facility provides primary healthcare services to a remote population of 112,000, including vulnerable infants and mothers suffering from high-risk pregnancies and deliveries.

Since the 2015 earthquakes, the US Government invested more than $190 million in earthquake response and recovery. USAID has trained more than 15,000 engineers, contractors, architects, masons and carpenters on earthquake-resistant construction techniques and helped homeowners to rebuild over 16,000 homes using modern safety standards.